Purpose

The new Medical Licensing Regulations 2025 (Ärztliche Approbationsordnung, ÄApprO) require the development of competence-oriented teaching formats. In addition, there is a great need for high-quality teaching in the field of radiation oncology, which manifests itself already during medical school. For this reason, we developed a simulation-based, hands-on medical education format to teach competency in performing accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy for early breast cancer. In addition, we designed realistic breast models suitable for teaching both palpation of the female breast and implantation of brachytherapy catheters.

Methods

From June 2021 to July 2022, 70 medical students took part in the hands-on brachytherapy workshop. After a propaedeutic introduction, the participants simulated the implantation of single-lead catheters under supervision using the silicone-based breast models. Correct catheter placement was subsequently assessed by CT scans. Participants rated their skills before and after the workshop on a six-point Likert scale in a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Participants significantly improved their knowledge-based and practical skills on APBI in all items as assessed by a standardized questionnaire (mean sum score 42.4 before and 16.0 after the course, p < 0.001). The majority of respondents fully agreed that the workshop increased their interest in brachytherapy (mean 1.15, standard deviation [SD] 0.40 on the six-point Likert scale). The silicone-based breast model was found to be suitable for achieving the previously defined learning objectives (1.19, SD 0.47). The learning atmosphere and didactic quality were rated particularly well (mean 1.07, SD 0.26 and 1.13, SD 0.3 on the six-point Likert scale).

Conclusion

The simulation-based medical education course for multicatheter brachytherapy can improve self-assessed technical competence. Residency programs should provide resources for this essential component of radiation oncology. This course is exemplary for the development of innovative practical and competence-based teaching formats to meet the current reforms in medical education.

中文翻译：

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为医学生举办的基于模拟的近距离放射治疗实践研讨会的开发、实施和结果

目的

新的《2025 年医疗许可条例》（ärztliche Appprobationsordnung， äApprO）要求开发以能力为导向的教学形式。此外，放射肿瘤学领域非常需要高质量的教学，这一点在医学院就已经体现出来。因此，我们开发了一种基于模拟的实践医学教育形式，以教授对早期乳腺癌进行间质多导管近距离放射治疗的加速部分乳腺照射 (APBI) 的能力。此外，我们还设计了适合教学女性乳房触诊和近距离放射治疗导管植入的逼真乳房模型。

方法

从 2021 年 6 月到 2022 年 7 月，70 名医学生参加了近距离放射治疗实践研讨会。经过预科介绍后，参与者使用硅胶乳房模型在监督下模拟单导导管的植入。随后通过 CT 扫描评估导管放置是否正确。参与者在标准化调查问卷中采用六点李克特量表对研讨会前后的技能进行评分。

结果

通过标准化问卷评估，参与者在 APBI 的所有项目上的知识基础和实践技能均得到显着提高（课程前平均总分 42.4，课程后平均总分 16.0，p  < 0.001）。大多数受访者完全同意研讨会增加了他们对近距离放射治疗的兴趣（六点李克特量表的平均值为 1.15，标准差 [SD] 0.40）。发现硅胶乳房模型适合实现先前定义的学习目标（1.19，SD 0.47）。学习氛围和教学质量评价特别好（李克特六点量表的平均值为 1.07，SD 0.26 和 1.13，SD 0.3）。

结论

基于模拟的多导管近距离治疗医学教育课程可以提高自我评估的技术能力。住院医师计划应该为放射肿瘤学的这一重要组成部分提供资源。本课程是开发创新实践和基于能力的教学形式的典范，以满足当前医学教育的改革。