BONE marrow aspiration and biopsy is a valuable medical procedure commonly performed for the for workup of haematologic malignancies and their definitive diagnosis. Speaking during a poster presentation at Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO) Live 2022, the annual Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO) meeting, Jessica Casselberry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, USA, noted that advanced practice providers perform 98% of bone marrow aspiration and biopsies at the institution. However, training is often done by observation, which can lead to variations in knowledge and skill level.
For this reason, Casselberry and their colleagues developed a standardised, evidence-based curriculum that combined didactic education with simulation training and a task trainer. The aim of the programme was to improve bone marrow aspiration and biopsies training, as quantified by a 10% reduction in specimen-related errors, a 25% increase in bone marrow aspiration and biopsies knowledge, and an increase in self-reported confidence among advanced practice providers who perform the procedure.
A survey was used to evaluate baseline knowledge. Advanced practice providers then participated in a 3-hour programme that featured an educational slide-based presentation, breakout sessions covering kit review, simulation on a task trainer, and a review of the specimen collection procedures. Descriptive and statistical analysis was used to compare responses between the pre- and post-programme surveys.
Specimen labelling errors decreased by 62.5% and overall knowledge of bone marrow aspiration and biopsies was shown to increase by 26.5%. After participation in the programme, all advanced practice providers noted that they felt “fairly” or “completely” confident to perform the procedure.
Summarising the research results, Casselberry said: “We concluded that the programme is beneficial, especially for those new to the procedure. Participants felt the programme could improve patient safety, and we confirmed that task training enhances mechanical cognitive and interactive skills.”
Emphasising the wider relevance of the findings, Casselberry added: “We believe this programme can serve for maintaining clinical competency and that simulation training with task trainers or other mannequins can be utilised in advanced practice provider models of care for the purposes of procedural skill acquisition and enhanced self-reported confidence.”
