Ultrafest: a novel approach to ultrasound in medical education leads to improvement in written and clinical examinations.

Kiah Connolly,John Fox,Craig Anderson,Lancelot Beier,Mark Langdorf

doi:10.5811/westjem.2014.11.23746

Kiah Connolly, John Fox + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.2014.11.23746

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Abstract

IntroductionOur objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of hands-on training at a bedside ultrasound (US) symposium (“Ultrafest”) to improve both clinical knowledge and image acquisition skills of medical students. Primary outcome measure was improvement in multiple choice questions on pulmonary or Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) US knowledge. Secondary outcome was improvement in image acquisition for either pulmonary or FAST.MethodsProspective cohort study of 48 volunteers at “Ultrafest,” a free symposium where students received five contact training hours. Students were evaluated before and after training for proficiency in either pulmonary US or FAST. Proficiency was assessed by clinical knowledge through written multiple-choice exam, and clinical skills through accuracy of image acquisition. We used paired sample t-tests with students as their own controls.ResultsPulmonary knowledge scores increased by a mean of 10.1 points (95% CI [8.9–11.3], p<0.00005), from 8.4 to a posttest average of 18.5/21 possible points. The FAST knowledge scores increased by a mean of 7.5 points (95% CI [6.3–8.7] p<0.00005), from 8.1 to a posttest average of 15.6/21. We analyzed clinical skills data on 32 students. The mean score was 1.7 pretest and 4.7 posttest of 12 possible points. Mean improvement was 3.0 points (p<0.00005) overall, 3.3 (p=0.0001) for FAST, and 2.6 (p=0.003) for the pulmonary US exam.ConclusionThis study suggests that a symposium on US can improve clinical knowledge, but is limited in achieving image acquisition for pulmonary and FAST US assessments. US training external to official medical school curriculum may augment students’ education.

Highlights

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of hands-on training at a bedside ultrasound (US) symposium (“Ultrafest”) to improve both clinical knowledge and image acquisition skills of medical students
The Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) knowledge scores increased by a mean of 7.5 points, from 8.1 to a posttest average of 15.6/ 21
This study suggests that a symposium on US can improve clinical knowledge, but is limited in achieving image acquisition for pulmonary and FAST US assessments

Summary

Introduction

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of hands-on training at a bedside ultrasound (US) symposium (“Ultrafest”) to improve both clinical knowledge and image acquisition skills of medical students. Primary outcome measure was improvement in multiple choice questions on pulmonary or Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) US knowledge. Secondary outcome was improvement in image acquisition for either pulmonary or FAST. Physician-performed bedside ultrasound (US) for diagnosis and procedural guidance is valuable, with studies from many specialties showing improved evaluation of patient pathology.[1,2] US is portable, relatively inexpensive, and has no radiation or health risks. Technology advances and declining machine costs have improved bedside applicability.[3] The major limitation to physician-performed US in standard practice is proficiency at image acquisition and interpretation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hands-on training at a bedside US symposium

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