title: Perceived effectiveness of teaching methods for point of care ultrasound.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly expanding aspect of both the practice and education of emergency physicians. The most effective methods of teaching these valuable skills have not been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This project aimed to identify those methods that provide the best educational value as determined by the learner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected from pre- and post-course surveys administered to students of the introductory POCUS course provided to emergency medicine residents each year at our facility. Data were collected in 2010 and 2011. Participants were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of small- vs. large-group format, still images vs. video clips, and PowerPoint slides vs. live demonstration vs. hands-on scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students felt the most effective methods to be small-group format, video-clip examples, and hands-on scanning sessions. Students also rated hands-on sessions, still images, and video images as more effective in post-course surveys as compared with pre-course surveys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methods perceived as most effective for POCUS education are small-group format, video-clip examples, and hands-on scanning sessions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Medical Education, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Rudolph A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Brooks
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laselle
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000193:education*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: emergency ultrasound; point of care ultrasound; residency education; training methods; ultrasound education