Brief Ultrasound‐Aided Teaching to Improve the Accuracy and Confidence of Resident Musculoskeletal Palpation

Abstract

Background Multiple studies demonstrate poor musculoskeletal palpation accuracy of physiatry residents. With the growing use of ultrasound clinically, it could serve as a powerful educational tool. However, there are no published studies examining the efficacy of ultrasound‐aided education at the bedside, where much learning takes place during postgraduate training. Objective To determine if brief ultrasound‐aided teaching improves residents' accuracy and confidence of musculoskeletal palpation. Design Before/After Trial. Setting Academic Institution. Participants Ten physical medicine and rehabilitation residents were voluntary participants. Intervention Each resident was given a survey to assess confidence in palpating the hook of the hamate and medial calcaneal tubercle. They then attempted to palpate and place a marker over these two structures in a model patient. Marker placement accuracy was verified by ultrasound. Faculty spent less than 1 minute per landmark, sonographically teaching its correct localization. The resident, after moving to a new model patient, was then re‐tested on accurate marker placement for both landmarks. A repeat survey to assess confidence was administered. Main Outcome Measurements Preintervention and postintervention accuracy and confidence of correct localization of both landmarks. Results We used McNemar's and Wilcoxon's tests to determine whether the intervention improved the location accuracy and confidence of successful palpation, respectively. Confidence level of correct localization of two landmarks improved on average from 4.3 to 8.15 on a scale of 10 after intervention. Of 20 palpation attempts, 11 correctly placed the marker postintervention after an incorrect placement, 8 made no change, and one changed from correct to incorrect placement. The odds of improvement in accuracy was 11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.60‐473.47, P < .01). Both tests showed significant improvements after the intervention at the significance level of .05. Conclusions Brief, ultrasound‐aided teaching increases accuracy and confidence of residents' musculoskeletal palpation.