Equine simulator for training how to place a horse mouth speculum

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Scope of the method

The Method relates to
  • Animal health
The Method is situated in
  • Education and training
Type of method
  • Other

Description

Method keywords
  • veterinary medicine
  • skillslab training
  • dummy
  • mouth speculum
  • horse
  • dentistry
Scientific area keywords
  • Veterinary education
  • clinical training
Method description

In the skillslab, dummy models and simulators are used for teaching various clinical skills. A thorough teeth examination in horses requires the placement of a mouth speculum, which is a commonly performed procedure in equine veterinary practice. An important part of this training process can be performed on a simulator in the skillslab.

Lab equipment

Home-made dummy using a skull on a stand

Method status
  • History of use
  • Internally validated

Pros, cons & Future potential

Advantages

The use of educational animal models in a skillslab offers a number of significant advantages:

  • - Reduced use of laboratory animals and reduced discomfort for patients, as procedures can be practised on dummy models and simulators before performing them on a live animal.
  • - Teaching of clinical skills in a quiet and safe environment, reducing anxiety and stress for the veterinary student.
  • - Complex practical skills can be split into a number of small steps when practising them in the skillslab
Challenges
  • - High cost of models
  • - Clinical training on live animals needed as well.
  • - Creating and repairing the home-made models is time consuming for a large group of students.

Contact person

Annelies Decloedt

Organisations

Ghent University (UGent)
Veterinary skillslab
Belgium