Prospective Analysis of Short- and Mid-term Knowledge Retention after a Brief Ultrasound Course for Undergraduate Medical Students

Carlos Augusto M Menegozzo,Priscila Gadelho Cazolari,Fernando Da Costa Ferreira Novo,Ramiro Colleoni,Edivaldo Massazo Utiyama

doi:10.6061/clinics/2019/e1087

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:The benefits of implementing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the emergency department are well established. Ideally, physicians should be taught POCUS during medical school. Several different courses have been designed for that purpose and have yielded good results. However, medical students need specifically designed courses that address the main objectives of knowledge acquisition and retention. Despite that, there is limited evidence to support knowledge retention, especially in the mid-term. The purpose of this study is to evaluate short- and mid-term knowledge retention after a student-aimed ultrasound course.METHODS:Medical students participating in a medical student trauma symposium (SIMPALT) in 2017 were included. Their profiles and baseline ultrasound knowledge were assessed by a precourse questionnaire (PRT). The same questionnaire was used one week (1POT) and three months (3POT) after the course.RESULTS:Most of the participants were 1st- to 4th- year medical students. None had prior ultrasound knowledge. They reported costs as the major barrier (65%) to enrollment in an ultrasound course. A comparison between the PRT and 1POT results showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.02), while no difference was found between 1POT and 3POT (p>0.09).CONCLUSION:Our findings support the use of a tailored ultrasound course for medical students. Knowledge acquisition and mid-term retention may be achieved by this specific population.

Highlights

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming an integral part of the assessment of critical care patients
The present study aims to evaluate the effects of a brief, student-tailored ultrasound course by focusing on short- and mid-term knowledge retention. This is a nonrandomized prospective study that included participants who enrolled in the skills stations at a medical student trauma symposium (SIMPALT) in 2017
We demonstrated that costs, release from routine activities, location, and duration may undermine course enrollment

Summary

Introduction

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming an integral part of the assessment of critical care patients. It is considered ‘‘the new stethoscope’’ by some authors [1,2] and is a useful tool for the evaluation of abdominal pain, intracranial hypertension, pleuropulmonary diseases, shock, and airway control [3,4]. As with any technology with widely expanding applications, it is imperative that physicians be well trained in POCUS. There is an ongoing debate regarding whether training in POCUS should be offered to medical students. FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) is one of the simplest applications of POCUS.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion