Preliminary Evaluation of Learning Performance of the Simplest Bovine Trans-rectal Palpation Phantom for Training Veterinary Students

Traditionally, animal exploitation in veterinary education in disciplines such as obstetrics is common worldwide. In addition, it is clear that veterinary schools are expected to provide sufficient opportunity for developing students’ necessary skill in bovine trans-rectal palpation by graduation. However, the veterinary medical education should be refined and animal exploitation in education be superseded by using non-harmful alternatives. Thus, a phantom was developed as a potential alternative to overcome the present educational problem in Bu-Ali Sina University.The phantom was composed of a fiberglass rear-half of the cow that was designed with detailed inside structures of pelvis and abdominal cavity of cow. Two opening on the cranial and dorsal aspects of the phantom were made to provide proper guidance while an instructor followed a student’s hand movement. By installing a slaughterhouse-derived cow reproductive tract inside the pelvis and a real rectum above it, an approximately real environment was provided. To find out how it can be useful in the training of students on cow trans-rectal examination, 31 veterinary theriogenologists and 110 fifth-year veterinary students were asked to fill out a developed attitude questionnaire anonymously. The results of instructors'' and students'' responses to the questionnaire indicated that the Phantom provided approximately a realistic physical environment and a comfortable and satisfying approach for teaching/learning cow trans-rectal examination. Accordingly, we can embed the phantom as a supplementary teaching tool in the bovine reproduction course of veterinary medical curriculum.