Accessible Personal Ultrasound Training Simulator

Gunabushanam, Gowthaman; Nautsch, Felix; Mills, Ian; Scoutt, Leslie M.

doi:10.1002/jum.14820

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Difficulties with manipulations of the simulator probe and the mannequin from the computer mouse or trackpad were mentioned as a problem in the simulation’s experience. Gunabushanam et al [ 30 ] have recently proposed a smart solution for the virtual ultrasound simulator to resemble the ultrasound transducer: a user’s own smartphone [ 30 ]. Such a solution has the potential to give the realistic touch needed for a complete virtual ultrasound simulation experience.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of an Online Ultrasound Simulator to Teach Basic Psychomotor Skills to Medical Students During the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown: Quality Control Study

Meuwly¹,

Mandralis²,

Tenisch³

et al. 2021

JMIR Med Educ

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Background Teaching medical ultrasound has increased in popularity in medical schools with hands-on workshops as an essential part of teaching. However, the lockdown due to COVID-19 kept medical schools from conducting these workshops. Objective The aim of this paper is to describe an alternative method used by our medical school to allow our students to acquire the essential psychomotor skills to produce ultrasound images. Methods Our students took online ultrasound courses. Consequently, they had to practice ultrasound exercises on a virtual simulator, using the mouse of their computer to control a simulated transducer. Our team measured the precision reached at the completion of simulation exercises. Before and after completion of the courses and simulator’s exercises, students had to complete a questionnaire dedicated to psychomotor skills. A general evaluation questionnaire was also submitted. Results A total of 193 students returned the precourse questionnaire. A total of 184 performed all the simulator exercises and 181 answered the postcourse questionnaire. Of the 180 general evaluation questionnaires that were sent out, 136 (76%) were returned. The average precourse score was 4.23 (SD 2.14). After exercising, the average postcourse score was 6.36 (SD 1.82), with a significant improvement (P<.001). The postcourse score was related to the accuracy with which the simulator exercises were performed (Spearman rho 0.2664; P<.001). Nearly two-thirds (n=84, 62.6%) of the students said they enjoyed working on the simulator. A total of 79 (58.0%) students felt that they had achieved the course’s objective of reproducing ultrasound images. Inadequate connection speed had been a problem for 40.2% (n=54) of students. Conclusions The integration of an online simulator for the practical learning of ultrasound in remote learning situations has allowed for substantial acquisitions in the psychomotor field of ultrasound diagnosis. Despite the absence of workshops, the students were able to learn and practice how to handle an ultrasound probe to reproduce standard images. This study enhances the value of online programs in medical education, even for practical skills.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a solution has the potential to give the realistic touch needed for a complete virtual ultrasound simulation experience. Interestingly, the main suggestion for improvement proposed by the group of users of the smartphone’s mock probe was to add an option allowing to scroll through images with a mouse [ 30 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of an Online Ultrasound Simulator to Teach Basic Psychomotor Skills to Medical Students During the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown: Quality Control Study

Meuwly¹,

Mandralis²,

Tenisch³

et al. 2021

JMIR Med Educ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, simulators have been increasingly used for teaching and training purposes in academic settings, and many medical specialties have attempted to integrate portable US devices into their curricula 21,22 . Multiple studies have looked at how simulation‐based training affects radiology resident education in various modalities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, Roark et al 21 tried to determine the impact of a simulation‐based, US‐guided breast biopsy training session on radiology residents' comfort levels and overall procedural knowledge and ultimately found the training to be beneficial in those aspects. In another study, Gunabushanam et al 22 attempted to develop an accessible and low‐cost personal US training simulator, which residents indeed found useful as part of their education. Maetani et al 23 determined the usefulness of an individual portable smart US device for residency and fellowship trainees.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrasound Training in Radiology Residency Programs

Mansoori

Golnari

Sharifi

et al. 2020

J of Ultrasound Medicine

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Objectives Comprehensive training in ultrasound (US) imaging during radiology residency is crucial if radiologists are expected to maintain a substantial role in this widely used imaging modality. This study aimed to evaluate the current curriculum of US training among radiology residency programs across the country via a nationwide survey. Methods A 28‐question survey was distributed among all academic radiology departments in the United States and their radiology residents. The survey consisted of 4 sections: general demographic information, training information, clinical competency, and adequacy of training (perspective). The Student t test and 1‐way analyses of variance were performed to assess statistical significance. Results Overall, 256 residents from 32 states completed the questionnaire. Only 114 (45%) residents reported having a dedicated rotation for performing US studies. Although 228 (89%) of trainees believed they received adequate experience for interpreting US studies, only 66 (26%) of them had the same belief about performing them. Only 116 (45%) of the residents were comfortable operating the US machines in their departments. Higher years of residency training, having a dedicated rotation for performing US studies, and having more than 10 hours per year of didactic lectures and/or more than 5 hours per year of case conferences dedicated to US had a positive impact on the residents' clinical competency and perspective (all P < .05). Conclusions Most radiology residents do not feel confident in performing US examinations by themselves. However, higher clinical competency was reported in the residents who had dedicated rotations for performing US studies and received more hours of US lectures and case conferences throughout their residency.

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“…Previous research using hand motion analysis of clinicians performing Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) examinations and ultrasound guided venous access have begun to characterize this. [10][11][12][13][14] These studies use multiple sensors or cameras integrated into a commercial system, which may have cost, portability, and line of sight implications that limit their widespread use. In addition, analysis of individual probe movements (sliding, rotation, tilting or rocking of the probe), decay of movement over time, frequency of movements, and other potentially important markers of sonographic expertise have not yet been characterized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing the biomechanical differences between novice and expert point‐of‐care ultrasound practitioners using a low‐cost gyroscope and accelerometer integrated sensor: A pilot study

Prager

Pageau

Hodges

et al. 2022

AEM Education and Training

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Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an important diagnostic tool in acute care medicine; however, little is known about the biomechanical differences between novice and expert practitioners. Methods:A low-cost ($50 CAD) gyroscope and accelerometer integrated sensor was assembled and affixed to an ultrasound probe. Seventeen participants, nine novices and eight experts, were recruited to perform three abdominal and four cardiac scans on a standardized patient. Participant demographics, time per scan, average acceleration, average angular velocity, decay in acceleration and angular velocity over time, and frequency of probe movements were analyzed. Video capture with blinded video review was scored.Results: On video review, experts had higher image optimization and acquisition scores for both abdominal and cardiac scans. Experts had shorter scan times for abdominal (7 s vs. 26 s, p = 0.003) and cardiac (11 s vs. 26 s, p < 0.001) scans. There was no difference in average acceleration (g) between novices and experts performing abdominal (1.02 vs. 1.01, p = 0.50) and cardiac (1.01 vs. 1.01, p = 0.45) scans. Experts had lower angular velocity (°/s) for abdominal scans (10.00 vs. 18.73, p < 0.001) and cardiac scans (15.61 vs. 20.33, p = 0.02) There was a greater decay in acceleration over time for experts performing cardiac scans compared to novices (−0.194 vs. −0.050, p = 0.03) but not for abdominal scans or when measuring angular velocity.The frequency of movements (Hz) was higher for novices compared to experts for abdominal (16.68 vs. 13.79, p < 0.001) and cardiac (17.60 vs. 13.63, p = 0.002) scans.Discussion: This study supports the feasibility of a low-cost gyroscope and accelerometer integrated sensor to quantify the biomechanics of POCUS. It may also support the concept of "window shopping" as a method by which experts obtain abdominal

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Accessible Personal Ultrasound Training Simulator

Abstract: Personal ultrasound simulators are technically feasible. These are well received by first-year radiology residents and perceived as useful to their education.

Cited by 4 publications

References 23 publications

Use of an Online Ultrasound Simulator to Teach Basic Psychomotor Skills to Medical Students During the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown: Quality Control Study

Use of an Online Ultrasound Simulator to Teach Basic Psychomotor Skills to Medical Students During the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown: Quality Control Study

Ultrasound Training in Radiology Residency Programs

Characterizing the biomechanical differences between novice and expert point‐of‐care ultrasound practitioners using a low‐cost gyroscope and accelerometer integrated sensor: A pilot study

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