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

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目引入了一种新颖的触觉培训技术，可以进行熟练的临床乳房检查（CBE）。临床乳腺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，但护士报告说，他们对CBE技能缺乏知识，技能和信心。项目？的计算机辅助CBE模拟器结合了触觉准确的乳房模拟与智能，技能为基础的触觉培训平台和在线远程学习技术。该计划通过在包含小的隐藏的模拟病变的触觉准确的乳房模型上进行机器引导的手动练习，快速显著地提高乳房检查技能。它量化性能水平并启动补救措施，直到达到性能标准。该项目的结果将提供一种现代化的、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可验证的CBE知识和技能的快速获取护理学生和从业者之间。该项目的广泛影响是使我们古老但关键的检查实践现代化，使护士能够准确和自信地进行临床乳房检查。这一结果可以显著改善美国乳腺癌筛查，这对女性来说是一个重大好处。这项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，它可以迅速扩大，以改善乳腺癌筛查在美国的需要改善乳腺癌的早期检测和减少假阳性被广泛承认，并将代表一个显着的，改善目前的乳腺癌筛查结果。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。由于早期检测与生存率呈正相关，因此准确和早期乳腺癌检测是降低该疾病死亡率的关键。

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.