Unique Exposure to Ultrasound in Pre-clinical Undergraduate Medical Education [39A]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Purpose: Descriptive case study of pre-clinical ultrasound education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine. BACKGROUND: Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly valued across medical disciplines. As benefits of ultrasound are recognized, so too is the need to integrate ultrasound into undergraduate medical education (UME). Early exposure contributes to ease of use during clinical rotations. Our objective is to describe integration of POCUS before clinical immersion and how efforts were perceived. METHODS: 58 medical students participated in a hands-on training session before initiation of clerkship duties. A brief didactic introduction for ultrasound techniques began each session. Students were divided into duos and rotated through 6 stations designed to provide training in ultrasound of the abdomen, head/neck, and cardiac. Each station consisted of a clinical scenario, ultrasound machine, standardized patient/model, and instructor. Student feedback was collected via 6-point questionnaire at the end of the session. RESULTS: 58/58 students completed the survey, positively evaluating clinical relevance and student satisfaction. 58/58 students answered “yes” that “the session met the stated learning objectives,” 57/58 answered “yes” that “the learning environment was conducive to my acquiring new skills.” Comments were entered in an optional field with the descriptors “great” and “helpful” trending throughout feedback, indicating high student satisfaction. CONCLUSION: UME is changing, with new challenges to preparing students for clinical years including the incorporation of POCUS. The overwhelmingly positive feedback for our session indicates integrating POCUS as an educational tool with hands-on ultrasound practice can provide engaging and applicable skills for medical students.