Self-learning of point-of-care cardiac ultrasound – Can medical students teach themselves?

Abstract

BackgroundPoint-of-care ultrasonography (PoCUS) is a rapidly evolving discipline that aims to train non-cardiologists, non-radiologists clinicians in performing bedside ultrasound to guide clinical decision. Training of PoCUS is challenging, time-consuming and requires large amount of resources. The objective of our study was to evaluate if this training process can be simplified by allowing medical students self-train themselves with a web-based cardiac ultrasound software.MethodsA prospective, single blinded, cohort study, comparing performance of 29 medical students in performing a six-minutes cardiac ultrasound exam. Students were divided into two groups: self-learning group, using a combination of E-learning software and self-practice using pocket ultrasound device compared to formal, frontal cardiac ultrasound course.ResultsAll 29 students completed their designated courses and performed the six-minutes exam: 20 students participated in the frontal cardiac ultrasound course and 9 completed the self-learning course. The median (Q1,Q3) test score for the self-learning group was higher than the frontal course group score, 18 (15,19) versus 15 (12,19.5), respectively. Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was found between the two study groups (p = 0.478). All students in the self-learning course group (9/9, 100%) and 16 (16/20, 80%) of students in the frontal ultrasound course group obtained correct alignment of the parasternal long axis view (p = 0.280).ConclusionsSelf-learning students combining E-learning software with self-practice cardiac ultrasound were as good as students who received a validated, bedside, frontal cardiac ultrasound course. Our findings suggest that independent cardiac ultrasound learning, combining utilization of E–learning software and self-practice, is feasible. Self-E- learning of cardiac ultrasound may serve as an important, cost-effective adjunct to heavily resource consuming traditional teaching.

Peer-teaching cardiac ultrasound among medical students: A real option

“…Past studies have substantiated that the integration of CU curriculum in medical-school is feasible [ 7 – 11 ] and that medical students are capable of using this modality to achieve accurate results [ 5 , 7 , 8 , 12 , 13 ]. With a growing base of evidence in support of its utility, the demand for integration of CU training into the medical-school curriculum is on the rise.…”

Automatic quantification of left ventricular function by medical students using ultrasound

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Integrating Basic and Clinical Sciences Using Point-of-Care Renal Ultrasound for Preclerkship Education

“…The literature has shown that instructors of various types and backgrounds, including trained senior medical students, nonclinical anatomists, and electronic programs, can effectively teach POCUS. 2,[26][27][28][29] Thus, it is possible for individuals to have learned POCUS and to teach it to medical students without having formal advanced training such as radiology residency or ultrasound fellowship. For example, residents learn basic skills in POCUS as part of routine training in EM and other disciplines.…”