Effectiveness of limited airway ultrasound education for medical students: a pilot study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe point-of-care ultrasound of the airway (POCUS-A) is a useful examination method but there are currently no educational programs for medical students regarding it. We designed a POCUS-A training curriculum for medical students to improve three cognitive and psychomotor learning domains: knowledge of POCUS-A, image acquisition, and image interpretation.MethodsTwo hours of training were provided to 52 medical students in their emergency medicine (EM) rotation. Students were evaluated for cognitive and psychomotor skills before and immediately after the training. The validity measures were established with the help of six specialists and eight EM residents. A survey was administered following the curriculum.ResultsCognitive skill significantly improved after the training (38.7±12.4 vs. 91.2±7.7) and there was no significant difference between medical students and EM residents in posttest scores (91.2±7.7 vs. 90.8±4.6). The success rate of overall POCUS-A performance was 95.8%. The students were confident to perform POCUS-A on an actual patient and strongly agreed to incorporate POCUS-A training in their medical school curriculum.ConclusionCognitive and psychomotor skills of POCUS-A among medical students can be improved via a limited curriculum on EM rotation.

New International Guidelines and Consensus on the Use of Lung Ultrasound

“…The University of South Carolina Curriculum incorporates LUS in multiple scenarios at all train stages from basic didactic instruction to clinical incorporation in case‐based scenarios 289 . Lim et al designed a rotation specific LUS educational experience for medical students during their emergency department rotation 293,294 . Similarly, Beaulieu provided both didactic theory education for 2.5 hours and hands‐on training for 2 hours to junior emergency medicine residents, and they reported a significant effect of training on the ability to perform LUS 295 …”

“…289 Lim et al designed a rotation specific LUS educational experience for medical students during their emergency department rotation. 293,294 Similarly, Beaulieu provided both didactic theory education for 2.5 hours and hands-on training for 2 hours to junior emergency medicine residents, and they reported a significant effect of training on the ability to perform LUS. 295 Egalitarianism is urgently needed in medicine, both to off-load the overwhelming responsibilities on physicians but also to empower and respect allied health care professionals in a team endeavor.…”

A consensus list of ultrasound competencies for graduating emergency medicine residents

“… 3 , 8 After this, we conducted a comprehensive literature review of all clinical applications of ultrasound with the assistance of a librarian to develop a final comprehensive list of applications in Fall 2020. 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 The specific search terms are presented in Figure 1 . The final list included topics such as physics and general principles as well as normal anatomy and pathology in the following categories: trauma, aorta, thoracic, cardiac, obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), testicular, ocular, neurology, venous, biliary, renal, soft tissue and musculoskeletal (MSK), head and neck, bowel, procedural guidance, and airway.…”

“…We developed an extensive list of relevant topics within EUS using the ACEP list of ultrasound guidelines and CORD‐AEUS consensus recommendations and input from a group of educationally focused ultrasound faculty (including one program director, EUS fellowship director, and EUS director) and EUS fellows at a large academic EM residency in the central region of the United States 3,8 . After this, we conducted a comprehensive literature review of all clinical applications of ultrasound with the assistance of a librarian to develop a final comprehensive list of applications in Fall 2020 15–55 . The specific search terms are presented in Figure 1.…”

Ultrasonography in undergraduate medical education: a comprehensive review and the education program implemented at Jichi Medical University

“…An inexpensive handmade thyroid phantom model allows medical students to practice measuring lesions and performing fine-needle aspiration using ultrasound [ 76 ]. In emergency medicine, a point-of-care head and neck ultrasound curriculum using live models with or without phantoms resulted in an improvement in students’ knowledge and skills concerning head and neck ultrasound applications [ 77 , 78 ].…”