Training of Veterinary Students in Trans Rectal Palpation of Equids: A Comparison of Live Versus Cadaver Models.

Overview

• This study compares traditional live horse training and an alternative cadaver model for teaching veterinary students how to perform transrectal palpation (TP) in horses.
• The results indicate that both methods yield similar learning outcomes, and cadaver training has additional benefits related to animal welfare and teaching visibility.

Introduction to the Research

• Background: Transrectal palpation (TP) is an essential diagnostic and clinical skill in equine veterinary medicine.
• Traditional Training: Usually involves practicing TP on live horses with an instructor’s assistance, but this raises ethical and welfare concerns when a large number of students are involved.
• Alternative Approach: Using cadaveric horses (equine cadaver with dissected flanks) to teach TP has been proposed as a possible solution.

Objectives of the Study

• To compare the effectiveness of two teaching methods for TP: traditional live horse training (LH) versus alternative cadaver model training (CDV).
• To evaluate student success in palpating key intra-abdominal structures after training with either method.
• To gather student feedback on their learning experience and satisfaction with these methods.

Methodology

• Participants: 20 veterinary students without prior equine TP experience.
• Grouping: Randomly assigned 10 students to live horse group (LH) and 10 students to cadaver group (CDV).
• Training Sessions: Both groups received identical initial theoretical instruction before their respective hands-on sessions.
• Testing: After training, all students performed TP on live horses to locate seven intra-abdominal structures.
• Verification: Success in palpation was self-reported by students and objectively confirmed by ultrasound imaging.
• Feedback: Anonymous surveys collected to assess student perceptions, including responses from an extended group of 126 students who had received CDV training.

Results

• Both groups showed similar success rates in accurately palpating the intra-abdominal structures.
• No significant statistical difference was found between the live horse and cadaver-trained students regarding palpation success.
• Ultrasound confirmation supported the subjective reports of palpation accuracy in both groups.
• Feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive toward the cadaver training method, praising it for effectiveness and practical learning advantages.

Discussion and Implications

• Animal Welfare: Using cadavers avoids repeated manipulation of live horses, addressing welfare and ethical concerns.
• Educational Benefits: The cadaver model allows instructors to directly observe and guide students’ hands, improving teaching clarity.
• Limitations: Small sample size (only 10 students per group) reduces statistical power.
• Reliance on subjective measures of success, although objective ultrasound verification was used to complement this.
• The results suggest cadaver training can be an effective alternative or complement to live horse training in veterinary programs.

Conclusion

• The cadaver model is a viable and effective tool for teaching equine transrectal palpation to veterinary students.
• This method achieves similar learning outcomes to traditional live horse training while benefiting animal welfare and instructor visibility.
• It can be safely integrated into veterinary curricula to enhance practical skill acquisition without overusing live animals.