Instructing Ultrasound-guided Examination Techniques Using a Social Media Smartphone App

Abstract

Social media applications on smartphones allow for new avenues of instruction in sports medicine and exercise sciences. This study tested the feasibility of instructing health care personnel through videos of ultrasound vascular measurements distributed by a social media messenger application. After two training sessions with an ultrasound device, voluntary physicians (n=10) and nurses (n=10) received a video for the performance of an ultrasound-guided determination of intima-media-thickness and diameter of the femoral arteries via a social media messenger application. All participants examined the same healthy human subject. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding overall time of performance, measurements of the femoral arteries, or a specifically designed “assessment of mobile imparted arterial ultrasound determination” score. The physicians group achieved significantly higher scores in the established “objective structured assessment of ultrasound skills” score (p=0.019). Approval of the setting was high in both groups. Transmission of videos via social media applications can be used for instructions on the performance of ultrasound-guided vascular examinations in sports medicine, even if investigators’ performances differ depending on their grade of ultrasound experience. In the future, the chosen approach should be tested in practical scientific examination settings.

An Augmented Reality Device for Remote Supervision of Ultrasound Examinations in International Exercise Science Projects: Usability Study

“…Social media had already been established as a firm tool in the scientific community before the COVID-19 pandemic [ 12 ]. Examples of this have been shown when learning about movement techniques in sports and exercise science [ 27 ], instructions on investigations [ 25 ], and data literacy skills [ 28 ]. All these features experienced a boost in the last months of the COVID-19 pandemic when the use of digital communication, digital conferencing, and digital remote working conditions became normal [ 29 ].…”

“…The scores used in this study have already been published before [ 25 , 26 ]. Although the quality of the measurements was not the focus, a high correlation was found among the supervisors.…”

“…All measurements were obtained using the same healthy male human subject. The procedures or measurements were recorded in advance as videos [ 25 ]. For better mobility, a portable ultrasound linear array transducer (Lumify; Philips Healthcare) was chosen and linked to a cell phone (HTC Corp) with the appropriate app.…”

“…The performance was rated using the OSAUS (Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills) score (maximum 25 points; Multimedia Appendix 1 [ 26 ]) and a modified AMIAUD (assessment of mobile imparted arterial ultrasound determination) score (modification: the examiners were not asked to note the results), both recorded by supervisors. This adaptation was made because of the study setting, as the transducer and the mobile phone occupied both examiners’ hands (now maximum 25 points; Multimedia Appendix 2 [ 25 ]). Each participant received an evaluation sheet with 25 questions (5-point Likert-scale, multiple-choice, or open-ended questions with text answer options).…”

Untitled

“…WhatsApp (WhatsApp Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) мессенджер был использован для передачи информации при обучении врачей и медсестер проведению УЗИ бедренных артерий для оценки толщины комплекса интимамедиа и диаметра сосудов. Результаты исследования показали достаточное качество видеоданных УЗИ, передаваемых через мессенджер, для успешного обучения медицинского персонала [36].…”