Focal cardiac ultrasound learning with pocked ultrasound device: A bicentric prospective blinded randomized study

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound using a pocket-ultrasound-device (PUD) is increasing in clinical medicine but the optimal way to teach focused cardiac ultrasound is not clear. We evaluated whether teaching using a PUD or a conventional-ultrasounddevice (CUD) is different when the final exam was conducted on a PUD. The primary aim was to compare the weighted total quality scale (WTQS, out of 100) obtained by participants in the two groups (CUD and PUD) on a live volunteer 2-4 weeks after their initial training. The secondary aims were to compare examination time and students' confidence levels (out of 50).Methods: This bicentric, prospective single-blind randomized trial included undergraduate medical students. After watching a 15 min video about echocardiography views, students had a 45 min hands-on training session with a live volunteer using a PUD or a CUD. The final examination was conducted with a PUD on a live volunteer.Results: Eighty-six comparable students were included, with 4 ± 1 years of medical training. In the PUD group, the mean WTQS was 65 ± 16 versus 60 ± 15 in the CUD group [p = 0.22; in multivariate analysis, OR 0.8 95% CI (0.1;1.6), p = 0.34]. The examination time was 10.0 [6.2-12.4] min in the PUD group versus 11.4 [7.3-13.2] in the CUD group (p = 0.39), while the confidence level was 27.9 ± 7.7 in the PUD group versus 27.4 ± 7.2 in the CUD group (p = 0.76). Conclusion:There was no difference between teaching echocardiographic views using a PUD as compared to a CUD on the PUD image quality, exam time, or confidence level of students.

Utility of focused cardiac ultrasonography training in veterinary students to differentiate stages of subclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs

“…Ease of FCU is partly dependent on machine, probes, and settings, and we were unable to examine differences between the 2 different types of echocardiography systems used in our study. In a previous study, 29 medical students were similarly successful using a hand-held ultrasound device as they were using a conventional ultrasound machine. Our study did not assess utility of FCU in the context of the physical examination, radiographs, or medical history, as would happen in standard clinical In a profession where access to specialists often is limited, student FCU training has the potential to motivate additional training, increase the thoroughness of diagnostic examinations, and provide important data that can lead to improved disease staging of dogs with MMVD.…”

“…Ease of FCU is partly dependent on machine, probes, and settings, and we were unable to examine differences between the 2 different types of echocardiography systems used in our study. In a previous study, 29 medical students were similarly successful using a hand‐held ultrasound device as they were using a conventional ultrasound machine. Our study did not assess utility of FCU in the context of the physical examination, radiographs, or medical history, as would happen in standard clinical practice.…”

“…In 1 study, 24 veterinary students were better able to acquire and identify images from horses after a 1‐day FCU training course. Studies in human medical schools have used a variety of cohorts and methods including, students in their 1st through 4th years, training sessions ranging from 1 hour to 1 day, various different combinations of didactic, hands‐on, and computer‐based modules, instructors ranging from senior physicians to previously trained peers, and equipment ranging from hand‐held ultrasound devices to conventional mainframe echocardiography machines, all with good reported feasibility and results 25‐33 . In 2014, 60% of medical schools in the United States included some level of ultrasonography training in their curriculum and this percentage likely has only grown even higher 34 .…”

“…from hand-held ultrasound devices to conventional mainframe echocardiography machines, all with good reported feasibility and results. [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] In 2014, 60% of medical schools in the United States included some level of ultrasonography training in their curriculum and this percentage likely has only grown even higher. 34 In recent years, national and international expert opinion groups have published various different consensus recommendations that point-of-care ultrasonography be integrated across the medical education curriculum as the foundation for a life-long continuum of ultrasonography education.…”