Medical Students' Preferences on Practicing Intravenous Insertion on Each Other and Via Simulation

Abstract

Summary Statement Medical students have traditionally practiced painful procedures such as intravenous (IV) line insertion on each other. Recently, there has been more emphasis on learning through simulation. Our study investigated students' attitudes regarding IV line insertion training, focusing on their anxiety, expectation to learn empathy, learning preference, and litigiousness. A 24-question survey was taken regarding anxiety and empathy when learning IV placement on each other versus on mannequins. Many students believed that they could learn empathy skills and better appreciate patient discomfort by learning IV placement through person-based practice. However, students who reported feeling anxious about having a student practice IV placement on them believed they were less likely to learn empathy through having a student practice IV insertion on them. The preferred method of learning painful procedures, such as IV placement, may be through a combination of simulation and person-based practice to mitigate anxiety while also enhancing empathy skills.