Abstract
BackgroundCardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training has been integrated into medical school curricula. However, there is no standardized cardiac POCUS training method for medical students. To address this issue, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) proposed a framework for medical student cardiac POCUS training. The objective of this pilot study was to develop a medical student cardiac POCUS curriculum with test scoring systems and test the curriculum feasibility for a future definitive study.MethodsBased on the ASE-recommended framework, we developed a cardiac POCUS curriculum consisting of a pre-training online module and hands-on training with a hand-held ultrasound (Butterfly iQ, Butterfly Network Inc., Guilford, CT, USA). The curriculum learning effects were assessed with a 10-point maximum skill test and a 40-point maximum knowledge test at pre-, immediate post-, and 8-week post-training. To determine the curriculum feasibility, we planned to recruit 6 pre-clinical medical students. We semi-quantitatively evaluated the curriculum feasibility in terms of recruitment rate, follow-up rate 8 weeks after training, instructional design of the curriculum, the effect size (ES) of the test score improvements, and participant satisfaction. To gather validity evidence of the skill test, interrater and test-retest reliability of 3 blinded raters were assessed.ResultsSix pre-clinical medical students participated in the curriculum. The recruitment rate was 100% (6/6 students) and the follow-up rate 8 weeks after training was 100% (6/6). ESs of skill and knowledge test score differences between pre- and immediate post-, and between pre- and 8-week post-training were large. The students reported high satisfaction with the curriculum. Both interrater and test-retest reliability of the skill test were excellent.ConclusionsThis pilot study confirmed the curriculum design as feasible with instructional design modifications including the hands-on training group size, content of the cardiac POCUS lecture, hands-on teaching instructions, and hand-held ultrasound usage. Based on the pilot study findings, we plan to conduct the definitive study with the primary outcome of long-term skill retention 8 weeks after initial training. The definitive study has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04083924).
Highlights
As technology advances, cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) with hand-held ultrasound devices (HHU) is being used increasingly in clinical practice by multiple specialties including cardiology, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, anesthesiology, and family medicine [1,2,3,4,5]
Based on the pilot study findings, we plan to conduct the definitive study with the primary outcome of long-term skill retention 8 weeks after initial training
Based on the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recommendations, we developed a medical student cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum and assessment tools for the skill and knowledge learning effects of the curriculum to determine the short- and long-term retention
Summary
Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) with hand-held ultrasound devices (HHU) is being used increasingly in clinical practice by multiple specialties including cardiology, emergency medicine, critical care medicine, anesthesiology, and family medicine [1,2,3,4,5]. With growing student interest in cardiac ultrasound examination [8], multiple studies have demonstrated feasibility and benefits of integrating cardiac POCUS into the undergraduate medical education (UME) curriculum [9,10,11,12,13,14]. There is no standardized cardiac POCUS training method for medical students To address this issue, the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) proposed a framework for medical student cardiac POCUS training. The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) proposed a framework for medical student cardiac POCUS training The objective of this pilot study was to develop a medical student cardiac POCUS curriculum with test scoring systems and test the curriculum feasibility for a future definitive study
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