title: Basic ultrasound curriculum for medical students: validation of content and phantom.
abstract: Effective use of ultrasound requires an understanding of the physics, combined with the ability to interpret the sonographic images. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of a basic ultrasound curriculum using a phantom to train medical students. Twenty-eight first- to fourth-year medical students were randomized to two groups: a control group that received no formal training and a trained group that received basic ultrasound training. Both groups took an initial multiple-choice written test and an ultrasound hands-on test using an agarose-based tissue mimic containing various objects. The curriculum for the trained group consisted of reading the principles of ultrasound and a hands-on session over the phantom. After training, both groups underwent a second multiple-choice exam and ultrasound practical test. The initial and the post-training test results were analyzed using a two-tailed Student's t-test. Baseline written and practical test scores were similar for both groups. After training, written test scores improved (82% trained vs. 66% control, P < 0.001). Hands-on ultrasound task performance also improved with training (96% trained vs. 60% control, P <0.001). The trained group took a shorter time to obtain a clear image and found on average one more object per scan. Parameters such as time to obtain a useful image and number of objects recognized also improved with training. Basic sonographic physics, imaging, and interpretation can be effectively taught to medical students during a short training session.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Min C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States