Acquisition and Long-term Retention of Bedside Ultrasound Skills in First-Year Medical Students

SONOSIM SUMMARY: This study aimed to assess ultrasound skill acquisition and knowledge retention of first-year medical students after completing six one-hour clinical bedside ultrasound sessions interspersed throughout the academic year. Topics covered included sonographic approaches to dyspnea, hypotension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, free abdominal fluid, kidney injury, and swollen leg. Results indicated that the sessions were effective for teaching students new ultrasound skills, and that these skills were retained after an 8-month period. The study also notes that certain image acquisition skills, such as obtaining a parasternal long-axis view of the heart, was more challenging for students, and that additional hands-on training for these skills would be beneficial.

Steinmetz P, Oleskevich S, Lewis J. Acquisition and long-term retention of bedside ultrasound skills in first-year medical students. J Ultrasound Med. 2018 Sep;35(9):1967-1975.

Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to assess bedside ultrasound skill acquisition and retention in medical students after completion of the first year of a new undergraduate bedside ultrasound curriculum at McGill University.

Methods
Skill acquisition was assessed in first-year medical students (n = 195) on completion of their bedside ultrasound instruction. Instruction included 6 clinically based 60-minute practical teaching sessions evenly spaced throughout the academic year. Students’ ability to meet course objectives was measured according to a 4-point Likert rating scale. Evaluations were performed by both instructors and the students themselves. Retention of skill acquisition was evaluated 8 months later on a year-end practical examination.

Results
The mean percentage ± SD of students assigned a rating of “strongly agree” or “agree” by instructors was 98% ± 0.4% for all 6 teaching sessions (strongly agree, 52% ± 3%; agree, 46% ± 3%). According to student self-evaluations, the mean percentage of students assigned a rating of strongly agree was significantly greater than the percentage assigned by instructors for all teaching sessions (86% ± 2% versus 52% ± 3%; P < .0005). Evaluation of skill retention on the year-end examination showed that 91% ± 2% of students were assigned a rating of strongly agree or agree for their ability to demonstrate skills learned 8 months previously. Ninety-five percent of students reported that bedside ultrasound improved their understanding of anatomy for all 6 teaching sessions (mean, 95% ± 0.01%).

Conclusion
These results demonstrate that first-year medical students show acquisition and long-term retention of basic ultrasound skills on completion of newly implemented bedside ultrasound instruction.

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SonoSim Keywords: Ultrasound Education, Ultrasound Training, Bedside Ultrasound