American College of Chest Physicians misses the mark with iPad apps

Bronchoscopy is an important procedure used in most medical ICUs on a very regular basis.

Bronch+ and 3D Bronch are new iPad apps that are designed to help users understand the basic anatomy of the upper and lower respiratory system and how to perform a bronchoscopy.

The apps were developed by the American College of Chest Physicians. Bronch+ is designed to show users how to properly perform bronchoscopy while 3D Bronch is designed for the users to better understand the anatomy of the respiratory system.

User Interface

First, Bronch+ has five modules included in the app: Introduction, Thoracic Lymph Node Anatomy, TBNA Techniques, EBUS-TBNA Steps, and Sample Handling.

All five modules are videos. There are no interactive diagrams in this app.

The TBNA (Transbronchial Needle Aspiration) techniques module shows how to appropriately operate the bronchoscope.

Additionally, the EBUS-TBNA Steps module breaks down the process in simple terms.

(The 3D Bronch app utilizes interactive 3D models to teach bronchial tree anatomy.)

The app opens with a 3D model of the lungs.

Users can click on the various branches of the bronchial tree to learn what each anatomical structure looks like during the bronchoscopy.

Additionally, the app also has a feature that populates all of the lymph nodes to understand where each lymph node resides in relation to which anatomic structure of the respiratory system.

Lastly, the app also has a full bronch image library. The user can slide their finger down the respiratory anatomy model and an image of what the bronchoscopy would show pops up on the left upper corner of the screen. If the user slides continuously, the bronchoscopy image looks like a video of a real bronchoscopy.

The 3D Bronch app lagged during every single use during my trial of this app. Transitions between different parts of the app are sluggish. Sometimes, the app would even crash during transitions.

Price:

• Bronch+ $4.99
• 3D Bronch $4.99

Likes:

• 3D Bronch has an excellent 3D interactive model
• The modules in Bronch+ have easy to understand instructions
• Both apps have distinguished authors, content is endorsed by ACCP

Dislikes:

• 3D Bronch app crashes often and is almost always sluggish during transitions
• Bronch+ is basically just 5 videos covering various aspects of bronchoscopy
• Neither app includes any type of pathology or how a user can recognize it
• Both of these apps could have easily been combined into one app

Clinicians That Could Benefit From This App:

• Pulmonologists
• Internists

Conclusion:

• Both Bronch+ and 3D Bronch are educational apps that focus on understanding normal respiratory anatomy and how to appropriately operate a bronchoscope
• 3D Bronch app has interactive 3D model of respiratory system and also includes bronchoscopic images of each structure from pharynx to terminal bronchioles
• 3D Bronch had slow transitions and sometimes crashed during use
• Bronch+ app focuses on educating users how to appropriately operate bronchoscope and techniques for TBNA and EBUS-TBNA
• Bronch+ is essentially just 5 videos. There are no interactive features and no text content

Bronch+ App Rating:
Overall: 2.5/5 Stars
User Interface: ?2/5 Stars. only 5 videos, no other content.
Multimedia Coverage: 3/5 Stars. ?Bronch+ only has videos and no other content.
Price: 2/5 Stars. Bronch+ has 5 video modules that don?t even offer CME. YouTube offers videos very similar to this for free (though they are not sponsored by ACCP).
Real World Applicability: 3/5 Stars. This is a reference app and will most probably not be used regularly.

Bronch+ iTunes Website

iMedicalApps recommended Bronch+?

3D Bronch App Rating:

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
User Interface: 2/5 Stars. 3D Bronch app crashes and was sluggish during transitions.
Multimedia Coverage: 5/5 Stars. 3D Bronch has an excellent 3D interactive model with correlated bronchoscopic images.
Price: 4/5 Stars. $4.99
Real World Applicability: 3/5 Stars. This is a reference app and will most probably not be used regularly.
3D Bronch iTunes Website

iMedicalApps recommended 3D Bronch?

Compatibility: iPad
Requires: iOS 3.2 or later
Tested on: iPad 3

Source: http://www.imedicalapps.com/2013/01/american-collegr-chest-physicians-ipad-app/

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