Training and assessment of skills in neuraxial access-Protocol of a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Access to the neuraxial space, including lumbar punctures and neuraxial anaesthesia, is an everyday procedure in clinical practice. Traditionally these procedures rely on manual palpation technique, but ultrasound is a useful tool when patients prove challenging. Presently, there is a lack of evidence-based guidelines for technical skills acquisition, both with and without ultrasound, and likewise, competency assessment approaches vary globally. Accordingly, we aim to assess the current evidence regarding learning and assessment in neuraxial access ± ultrasound, for future educational recommendations.

METHODS: This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement, together with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. A systematic search strategy will be based on a PICO approach, focusing on physicians, medical students, or nurses being exposed to education, training, or assessment in procedural neuraxial access ± ultrasound. No comparators are obligated, but outcomes should be assessable using the Kirkpatrick four levels of training evaluation. The search will be performed in Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and CINAHL. Independently, two authors will screen the studies and conflicts will be resolved by a third author. Relevant predefined data will be extracted and analysed using a descriptive approach. The quality of the studies will be assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.

DISCUSSION: This scoping review will contribute by presenting gathered evidence of an overview of the different approaches to achieving education and training of technical skills in neuraxial access, and how skills are tested, which could guide research and future recommendations for skills development and assessment.