A survey of simulators for palpation training

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2009:142:444-6.

Abstract

Palpation is a widely used diagnostic method in medical practice. The sensitivity of palpation is highly dependent upon the skill of clinicians, which is often difficult to master. There is a need of simulators in palpation training. This paper summarizes important work and the latest achievements in simulation for palpation training. Three types of simulators; physical models, Virtual Reality (VR) based simulations, and hybrid (computerized and physical) simulators, are surveyed. Comparisons among different kinds of simulators are presented.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation*
  • Education, Medical*
  • Equipment Design*
  • Humans
  • Palpation / standards*
  • User-Computer Interface