Learning Curve of Radiological Technologist Venipuncture Trainees in Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

PURPOSE This study evaluated RTc’s venipuncture learning performance according to our training program in nuclear medicine, requiring monitoring and comparison with physicians to ensure safety. METHODS During a three-month period, 162 and 125 patients in nuclear medicine underwent venipuncture by six Radiologists and four second-year Residents, respectively. Each of the six RTc trainees performed venipuncture on 60 patients during a six-month period. Venipuncture success rates, reflecting how often examinees performed punctures for a patient, and the frequency of venipuncture attempts, indicating how often a patient was punctured by examinees, were compared among Radiologists, Residents, and RTc trainees. RESULTS Radiologists and Residents achieved average success rates of 87% and 74%, respectively. RTc trainees had an overall success rate of 86%, significantly outperforming Residents. Learning curve analysis for RTc trainees showed the average venipuncture success rates across six groups of ten cases were 82%, 86%, 82%, 88%, 88%, and 91%, respectively, with the sixth group significantly outperforming Residents. The distribution of venipuncture attempts indicated comparable success rates within two attempts between physicians and RTc trainees (98% vs. 97%, p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS Our RTc venipuncture training program in nuclear medicine highlighted RTc trainees' competence in venipuncture, demonstrating improvement over consecutive cases and comparable outcomes to physicians with safety. Our learning curve analysis suggests that RTc trainees may need to perform more than 60 procedures to reach the desired skill level.