Abstract
Background: Despite ultrasound being an inherent part of medical education, only a few German medical schools have established a comprehensive ultrasound curriculum. This study aimed to explore medical students' perspectives on ultrasound in medical education (USMed).Results: Between January 1st, 2019 und June 30th, 2019, an online survey was conducted among German medical students via the students' associations and their respective teaching facilities. The survey consisted of 17 items regarding USMed. Statements were rated on a 4-point Likert scale for agreement. In total, 1040 students from 31 German medical faculties participated. The majority (1021, 98.2%) reported a very high to high interest in curricular USMed. Students agreed (n = 945, 90.9%) that USMed would be helpful along their entire course of medical studies. Considering the best starting time for USMed, the opinions of German medical students diverged: students studying in a model curriculum preferred to start in the second year (40.7%) while 49% of the students studying in a traditional curriculum preferred to start in the third year (p ≤ 0.001). An insufficient allotment of time for USMed in the planned curriculum (675, 65%) and a lack of courses run by medical faculty (305, 29.4%) were listed as perceived significant barriers to the participation in USMed. Peer teaching was regarded as an effective method in realizing USMed by 731 (70.3%) students.Conclusion: German medical students are very interested and willing to participate in USMed. There appears to be a high demand for US courses offered by medical schools.
Highlights
For a long time, ultrasound (US) was a skill learned by physicians during their residency rather than during their studies
The medical faculty of the Ulm University has implemented an US course into its medical curriculum in the fifth and sixth semesters, which consists of seminars and practical training
In winter term 2018/2019, a total of 96.115 medical students were enrolled in Germany [14]
Summary
Ultrasound (US) was a skill learned by physicians during their residency rather than during their studies. The catalog requires students to “[be able to] use US to support basic clinical examinations according to the situation” [1] and integrates US into the curriculum in the last semesters and the practical year. The inclusion of ultrasound in the curriculum is useful in terms of learning the diagnostic skill, but apparently can be supportive in other ways, such as teaching anatomy. The German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) has tried to support the integration of USMed into medical curricula. Within these efforts, a DEGUM certificate for endorsed students’ education was established in 2010. Peer teaching was regarded as an effective method in realizing USMed by 731 (70.3%) students
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