Administration of the DIVA Test
The DIVA Test is a Distracted Intravenous Access Assessment Tool
The DIVA test is administered by having the candidate simultaneously perform three tasks: cannulate a plastic arm manikin, complete an arithmetic test, and be timed for speed of completion. 1
Test Components and Setup
The test evaluates automaticity of peripheral venous cannulation skill through concurrent assessment of:
- Technical cannulation performance on a plastic arm manikin 1
- Cognitive performance measured by arithmetic test completion 1
- Speed of completion for the entire procedure 1
Administration Protocol
- The candidate is given a plastic arm manikin for venous cannulation 1
- An arithmetic test is provided simultaneously that must be completed during the cannulation procedure 1
- The total time to complete both tasks is recorded 1
- All three components (cannulation success, arithmetic accuracy, and completion time) are assessed together 1
Scoring and Interpretation
- Performance is calculated as a composite score from all three components 1
- Mean scores demonstrate clear differentiation between skill levels: novices achieve 47.7%, intermediates 73.4%, and experts 84.4% 1
- The differences between groups are statistically significant (p < 0.0005), confirming the test's ability to discriminate skill levels 1
Target Population and Purpose
- The test is designed for medical students at the final-year level to assess their automaticity in performing peripheral venous cannulation 1
- It evaluates whether candidates can perform the procedure competently while distracted, reflecting real clinical conditions 1
- The test is intended as a formative assessment to familiarize students with the proficiency level required for clinical practice 1
Common Pitfalls
- Do not confuse this with the DIVA Score, which is a clinical prediction tool for identifying difficult intravenous access in children based on patient characteristics 2, 3
- The test focuses on technical automaticity rather than just safety, addressing a gap in traditional medical training assessments 1
- Most participants (78%) find the test enjoyable and useful (76%), though doctors rate it as less fair (38%) compared to students (78%) 1