Teaching obstetric ultrasound at Mulago Hospital - Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

BackgroundMulago Hospital is a high volume referral hospital under the Makerere University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Basic obstetric ultrasound is a useful skill that can aid patient care.ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of an intervention implemented to teach basic ultrasound skills to medical students and house officers at Mulago Hosptial, Kampala, Uganda.MethodsForty participants, including medical students, junior house officers (JHOs), and senior house officers (SHOs) were enrolled in the study. A didactic and practical hands-on teaching session was evaluated using a pre- and post-test that was administered to all participants.ResultsParticipants included 12 medical students, 23 JHOs, and 5 SHOs. A significant difference in pre- and post-test scores was demonstrated in the medical students and JHOs (34% to 76%, p <0.0001) and this was retained when the results were stratified into the basic definitions and practical sections of the survey (33% to 71%, p<0.0001). The scores for the senior house officers had a mean increase of 2.3 points.ConclusionThis original teaching intervention is an effective method to improve knowledge and skills for medical students and house officers at Mulago Hospital in the area of basic obstetric ultrasound.

Training in Ultrasound to Determine Gestational Age in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: A Systematic Review

“…In total, 25/1,262 studies were included (Figure 1) (27)(28)(29)(30)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52) all of which were programme evaluations. The majority were undertaken in Africa (n = 18, 72%) (25-28, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40-42, 45-48, 50), with three in South East Asia (12%) (31,40,45), one in South America (4%) (51), and several across multiple sites in Africa, Asia, and South America (n = 3, 12%) (35,44,53).…”

“…The majority were undertaken in Africa (n = 18, 72%) (25-28, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40-42, 45-48, 50), with three in South East Asia (12%) (31,40,45), one in South America (4%) (51), and several across multiple sites in Africa, Asia, and South America (n = 3, 12%) (35,44,53). Most were descriptive studies (n = 23, 92%) (27,29,30,(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54) of which 3 (12%) (40,43,46) employed mixed methods. The remaining 2 (8%) (28,42) were case reports.…”

“…Studies which were not undertaken in LMICs were excluded, as were studies relating to training in obstetric ultrasound that did not include the determination of gestational age. Where there was uncertainty as to whether the assessment of gestational age was included in the training programs, further information was sought online and the authors contacted directly for clarification (n = 14) (16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29). If the inclusion of gestational age assessment in the training could not be verified, the studies were excluded (n = 9) (16,17,(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)30).…”

“…Training was provided to local practitioners in all studies, with very few (n = 5, 20%) designed for those with previous experience of using ultrasound (27,29,35,43,53). Instead, over half (n = 14, 56%) focused on training those who had not used ultrasound before (28,30,31,36,38,41,42,(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)51).…”

Health issues of concern to Africa and beyond: infections, NCDs and health systems inertia

“…This section begins with a Gambian study on the outcome of caesarean section and deliveries over a one year period 19 , and it is followed by a Ugandan experience of teaching health workers obstetrics ultrasound. 20 Continuing with the teaching theme in SRH, Turkish researchers report on their experience with fertility and expectations of having children. 21 …”