A Paper-Based Simulation Model for Teaching Inguinal Hernia Anatomy

Background Inguinal hernias remain a challenging area of learning for medical students due to its relatively complex anatomy. Modern curriculum delivery methods are conventionally limited to didactic lectures and demonstration of anatomy intraoperatively. These strategies have limitations; lectures are inherently descriptive and based on 2-dimensional models, while intraoperative teaching is often unstructured and opportunistic. Methods A paper-based model was developed comprising three overlapping paper panels simulating the anatomical layers of the inguinal canal which can be modified readily to further simulate various hernia pathologies and their surgical repair. These models were incorporated into a timetabled structured learning session for 3 rd - and 4 th -year medical students. Learners responded to fully anonymised surveys before and after the learning session. Findings A total of 45 students participated in these sessions over a period of 6 months. Pre-learning session mean ratings for the learners’ confidence in their understanding of the layers of the inguinal canal, identifying indirect and direct inguinal hernias and in naming the contents of the inguinal canal were 2.5, 3.3 and 2.9, while post-learning session mean ratings were 8.0, 9.4 and 8.2, respectively. Paired samples Student’s t-tests for all three questions were statistically significant ( p < 0.001). The mean rating for usefulness of the session was 9.6/10. Free comments from students emphasised the models’ usefulness as a visual learning aid. Discussion and Conclusion Our novel, low-cost paper model was associated with an improvement in learners’ perceived knowledge and understanding of inguinal canal anatomy and pathology.