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. 2024 Jun 6;24(1):632.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05621-w.

Improving medical students recognizing surgery of glioblastoma removal/decompressive craniectomy via physical lifelike brain simulator training

Pin-Chuan Chen #  1 , Hsin-Chueh Chen #  1 , Wei-Hsiu Liu #  2   3 , Jang-Chun Lin #  4   5
Affiliations

Improving medical students recognizing surgery of glioblastoma removal/decompressive craniectomy via physical lifelike brain simulator training

Pin-Chuan Chen et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the benefits of employing a Physical Lifelike Brain (PLB) simulator for training medical students in performing craniotomy for glioblastoma removal and decompressive craniectomy.

Methods: This prospective study included 30 medical clerks (fifth and sixth years in medical school) at a medical university. Before participating in the innovative lesson, all students had completed a standard gross anatomy course as part of their curriculum. The innovative lesson involved PLB Simulator training, after which participants completed the Learning Satisfaction/Confidence Perception Questionnaire and some received qualitative interviews.

Results: The average score of students' overall satisfaction with the innovative lesson was 4.71 out of a maximum of 5 (SD = 0.34). After the lesson, students' confidence perception level improved significantly (t = 9.38, p < 0.001, effect size = 1.48), and the average score improved from 2,15 (SD = 1.02) to 3.59 (SD = 0.93). 60% of the students thought that the innovative lesson extremely helped them understand the knowledge of surgical neuroanatomy more, 70% believed it extremely helped them improve their skills in burr hole, and 63% thought it was extremely helpful in improving the patient complications of craniotomy with the removal of glioblastoma and decompressive craniectomy after completing the gross anatomy course.

Conclusion: This innovative lesson with the PLB simulator successfully improved students' craniotomy knowledge and skills.

Keywords: Additive Manufacturing; Decompressive Craniectomy; Glioblastoma removal; Medical Education; Physical lifelike Brain Simulator.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The PLB simulator. The different structures are marked in different colors: skull (white), glioblastoma (grey), and lobe (beige)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The surgical burr used in the innovative lesson on glioblastoma removal and decompressive craniectomy
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The students used a 3D-printed simulator for practice (only the skull)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Students’ satisfaction with learning in different aspects
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Students’ feedback on the benefits of the innovative lessons
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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