Evaluation of an ultrasound program (intermediate obstetric and emergency medicine) for Australian rural and remote doctors.
BACKGROUND
This paper describes the evaluation of an intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound education workshop for rural and remote Australian doctors, which was developed in response to an educational needs assessment that showed an unmet need in this area. The workshop was held in four Australian states. The participants were 61 rural and remote doctors.


METHODS
Data from pre- and post-workshop knowledge tests and general workshop evaluation were analysed.


RESULTS
Sixty-one doctors attended an ultrasound workshop and self-reported increases in knowledge, confidence and expertise in ultrasound. The mean pretest score for 56 doctors who completed both the pre- and post-workshop knowledge tests was 31.6 and the post-test score mean was 33.3 out of a possible score of 44, which demonstrated a statistically significant increase in knowledge (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation of the workshop demonstrated that it was an effective way of increasing knowledge and confidence in intermediate obstetric ultrasound and emergency medicine ultrasound. The workshop was popular and received very positive feedback from the attendees.
Glazebrook
Roz
R
Ultrasound Program, Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), GPO Box 2507, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia. r.glazebrook@acrrm.org.au
Manahan
Dan
D
Chater
Alan B
AB
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*