SBIR Phase I: Novel Tactile Online Nursing Trainer for Clinical Breast Exams

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目介绍了一种新颖的触觉训练技术，可以产生熟练的临床乳房检查（CBEs）。临床乳房检查被美国疾病控制和预防中心（CDC）确定为仅有的两种主要乳腺癌筛查方式之一，但护士报告缺乏知识、技能和对其CBE技能的信心。这个项目吗?计算机辅助CBE模拟器结合了精确的乳房模拟，智能，基于技能的触觉训练平台和在线远程学习技术。该程序通过机器引导的手动练习，快速显著地提高乳房检查技能，这些乳房模型包含小的、隐藏的模拟病变。它量化绩效水平，并开始补救实践，直到达到标准的绩效标准。该项目的成果将提供一种现代化、易于复制的技术，以迅速扩大能够进行高质量标准乳房检查的熟练护士队伍。第一阶段的具体目标是展示护理学生和从业人员快速获得可验证的CBE知识和技能。该项目的广泛影响是使我们古老但重要的检查实践现代化，使护士能够准确而自信地进行临床乳房检查。这一结果可以显著改善美国的乳腺癌筛查，这对女性来说是一项重大益处。该技术具有巨大的商业潜力，因为没有大规模的培训替代方案存在，它可以迅速扩展到改善美国的乳腺癌筛查。改善乳腺癌早期检测和减少假阳性的必要性得到广泛认可，并将代表当前乳腺癌筛查结果的显著改善。该项目的第一阶段将提高护理人员和学生的CBE技能。这种基于技术的CBE培训方法有充分的理由，因为乳腺癌仍然是美国妇女中最常见的癌症，也是癌症死亡的第二大原因。由于早期检测仍然与生存呈正相关，因此准确和早期检测乳腺癌是降低这种疾病死亡率的关键。

This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I Project introduces a novel, tactile training technology that produces skilled clinical breast examinations (CBEs). Clinical breast examination is identified by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of only two primary breast cancer screening modalities, yet nurses report having a lack of knowledge, skill and confidence in their CBE skills. The project?s computer assisted CBE simulator combines tactually accurate breast simulations with an intelligent, skill-based tactile training platform and online distance learning technology. The program rapidly and significantly increases breast examination skills through machine guided manual practice on the tactually accurate breast models that contain small, hidden simulated lesions. It quantifies performance levels and initiates remedial practice until criterion standards of performance are achieved. The result of this project would provide a modern, easily reproducible technology to rapidly expand the corps of skilled nurses who can perform quality-standard breast examinations. The specific aim of Phase l is to demonstrate the rapid acquisition of verifiable CBE knowledge and skill among nursing students and practitioners.The broad impact of this project is to modernize our antique but critical examination practices to enable nurses to accurately and confidently perform clinical breast examinations. The result could measurably improve U.S. breast cancer screening, a major benefit for women. The proposed technology has great commercial potential because no mass training alternative exists and it could be rapidly expanded to improve breast cancer screening in the U.S. The need for improved early detection of breast cancer and reduced false positives is widely acknowledged and would represent a dramatic, improvement in current breast cancer screening outcomes. This first phase of the project will lead to improved CBE skills among nursing staff and students. There is ample justification for this technology-based CBE training approach as breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women and is the second largest cause of death from cancer. Because early detection remains positively associated with survival, accurate and early breast cancer detection is at the key to reducing mortality from this disease.