Teaching breast ultrasound skills including core-needle biopsies on a phantom enhances undergraduate student’s knowledge and learning satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose To investigate whether a training program on breast ultrasound skills including core-needle biopsies to undergraduate students can improve medical knowledge and learning satisfaction. Methods Medical students attending mandatory classes at the Medical School of the University of Saarland received a supplemental theoretical and hands-on training program on ultrasound (US) breast screening and on US-guided core-needle biopsy using an agar–agar phantom. Experienced breast specialists and ultrasound examiners served as trainers applying Peyton’s 4-step training approach. The students’ theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills were tested before and after the training program, using a multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ), the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a student curriculum evaluation. Results The MCQ results showed a significant increase of the student’s theoretical knowledge (50.2–75.2%, p < 0.001). After the course, the OSCE showed a mean total of 17.3/20 points (86.5%), confirming the practical implementation of the new skills. The student curriculum evaluation in general was very positive. A total of 16/20 questions were rated between 1.2 and 1.7 (very good) and 3 questions were rated as 2.1 (good). Conclusion Undergraduate student’s medical education can be enhanced by teaching breast US skills.

Phantom‐based assessment of motion and needle targeting accuracy of robotic devices for magnetic resonance imaging‐guided needle biopsy

“…4 Gel phantoms based on agar and gelatin have been proposed as a valuable cost-effective tool in the process of breast biopsy training under ultrasound needle guidance too. 40 In this effort, a recent study presents the development of an agar-based phantom mimicking breast, whose Young's modulus and acoustic properties were tuned to match those of fat, glandular and tumour tissues, thus providing realistic haptic feedback and US visibility during needle insertion. 41 A double-layered gelatin-based phantom with simulated tumours have been recently proposed for similar purpose in another study.…”