Ultrasound as a Learning Tool in Bachelor-Level Anatomy Education

Abstract

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has become an increasingly common diagnostic tool in the clinical environment. As a result, it is being used earlier for medical students in Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) as a learning tool for the basic sciences including gross anatomy. There is little literature, however, to support its utility for basic science education in students currently seeking a bachelor's degree. This study consisted of fourteen currently enrolled bachelor students with previous instruction in human anatomy and physiology. Students participated in an ultrasound didactic and an interactive ultrasound experience with volunteers. Before and after this session, students were asked to complete an assessment measuring their spatial understanding of the human anatomy and their ability to locate structures using ultrasound. Wilcoxon's signed-rank tests comparing assessment scores showed significant improvement on both portions of the assessment. Based on this improvement, we suggest that ultrasound is a valid educational tool which can be used at the bachelor-level to effectively enhance students' learning of anatomy and provide hands on experience with modern technology. Further research with larger samples will be necessary to determine whether it would supplement or replace more traditional teaching modalities.

Is ultrasound imaging effective in teaching anatomy in undergraduate medicine? A systematic review protocol

“…These finding were supported by a recent study demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in test scores in the ultrasound group following a simulation versus didactic teaching session (Shah et al, 2019). Alexander et al (2021) found that ultrasound was a useful educational tool when teaching anatomy to non-medical students as well. Kondrashov et al (2015) found that students who undertook a clinical ultrasound elective course had significant improvement in their post-test anatomy exam score in comparison to their pre-test.…”

Does ultrasound education improve anatomy learning? Effects of the Parallel Ultrasound Hands-on (PUSH) undergraduate medicine course

“…This result may be due to the vast difference between ultrasound images and the actual appearance of gross anatomy in the cadaver. Generally, ultrasound helps students learn the location and relationships between anatomical structures and their disposition in a living human body, strengthening their cognition and concepts of anatomy [ 15 ]. Additionally, medical students can observe dynamic changes in the heart and the blood flow of vessels through ultrasound.…”

PAs and point-of-care ultrasound

“…Lack of faculty expertise will likely remain a prominent barrier until program leaders recognize the value of and prioritize POCUS education for faculty members who lack POCUS training. Although curricular burden is an identified barrier, emerging evidence suggests that POCUS education can enhance current medical education curricula, specifically enhancing anatomy, physiology, physical examination, or other clinical skill education 43,44. This value must be weighed by educators who often face time, fiscal, and expertise constraints when building curricula.…”

“…Although curricular burden is an identifi ed barrier, emerging evidence suggests that POCUS education can enhance current medical education curricula, specifi cally enhancing anatomy, physiology, physical examination, or other clinical skill education. 43,44 This value must be weighed by educators who often face time, fi scal, and expertise constraints when building curricula. Growing evidence suggests that innovative integration methods such as student interest groups and asynchronous education can mitigate this burden, and intelligent integration can enhance rather than detract from existing curricula.…”