| Autor: |
Hough VA; VetMED Emergency and Specialty Care, 20612 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024 USA., Wycislo KL; Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308 USA., Hofmeister EH; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 1130 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849 USA., Piech TL; Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Long Island University, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville, NY 11548 USA., Maki LC; Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308 USA., Shaver SL; Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, 19555 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85308 USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Veterinary students' accuracy, confidence, and time required to diagnose bacterial sepsis in fluid cytology samples was evaluated using two different slide preparation methods: direct smears and cytocentrifuged concentrated preparations. We hypothesized veterinary students would diagnose fluids as septic on concentrated preparations more accurately and quickly than on direct smears. Thirty third- and fourth-year students who had previously participated in a clinical pathology course completed a survey regarding general cytology experience and reviewed 40 randomized Romanowsky-stained slides via microscopy. Slides consisted of 10 septic and 10 non-septic samples with matched direct and concentrated slides, prepared from fluids from dogs, cats, and a horse. Participants' slide evaluation time, diagnosis, confidence, and slide photographs of areas considered septic were recorded. No difference in diagnostic accuracy between direct and concentrated samples was identified (area under the curve: 57% for both preparations, p = 0.77), although students agreed with pathologist-determined diagnoses more often when viewing concentrated samples ( M = 63%, SD = 11% for concentrated; M = 56%, SD = 21% for direct, p = .012). A positive relationship existed between accuracy of diagnosis ( R 2 = .59) and senior status ( p = .002), comfort interpreting cytology slides ( p < .03), and if the student had taken the senior pathology rotation ( p = .02). Only 38% (121/319) of participant photographs correctly identified sepsis. Under experimental conditions, concentrated preparations did not increase the accuracy of veterinary students' bacterial sepsis diagnosis; however, since accuracy did increase with cytology experience and comfort level, additional pre-clinical and clinical cytology training may benefit students before entering practice. |
