Abstract
PurposeTo investigate whether a training program on breast ultrasound skills including core-needle biopsies to undergraduate students can improve medical knowledge and learning satisfaction.MethodsMedical students attending mandatory classes at the Medical School of the University of Saarland received a supplemental theoretical and hands-on training program on ultrasound (US) breast screening and on US-guided core-needle biopsy using an agar–agar phantom. Experienced breast specialists and ultrasound examiners served as trainers applying Peyton’s 4-step training approach. The students’ theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills were tested before and after the training program, using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ), the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a student curriculum evaluation.ResultsThe MCQ results showed a significant increase of the student’s theoretical knowledge (50.2–75.2%, p < 0.001). After the course, the OSCE showed a mean total of 17.3/20 points (86.5%), confirming the practical implementation of the new skills. The student curriculum evaluation in general was very positive. A total of 16/20 questions were rated between 1.2 and 1.7 (very good) and 3 questions were rated as 2.1 (good).ConclusionUndergraduate student’s medical education can be enhanced by teaching breast US skills.
Highlights
Ultrasound (US) is widely used in diagnostic medicine as it is non-invasive, painless, fast & easy to perform, inexpensive and does not apply ionizing radiation [1]
The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an extended US breast training program on the knowledge and hands-on skills of undergraduate medical students
This study assessed the effectiveness of an extended US breast training program on the knowledge and hands-on skills of undergraduate medical students
Summary
Ultrasound (US) is widely used in diagnostic medicine as it is non-invasive, painless, fast & easy to perform, inexpensive and does not apply ionizing radiation [1]. It provides accurate images of tissue structures and offers valuable diagnostic information. US is used in almost every sub-specialty of obstetrics and gynecology, e.g., fetal medicine, general and specialized gynecology and senology [2, 3]. While US devices are widely used the quality of the devices and the experience of the examiners vary widely. Both factors are key for accurate diagnosis. The examiner must be well-trained and have a deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology in order to be able to correlate US findings with clinical findings [4]
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