title: Application of a new adaptable thyroid model for ultrasound and hands-on skill assessment.
abstract: The thyroid exam is an important clinical skill that is widely practiced by both primary care and specialty physicians. Despite this, there are few teaching models that allow for practice and assessment of proper examination technique. We developed a sensorized thyroid exam model and accompanying survey to capture clinical decision making and hands-on performance. Two endocrinologists performed the thyroid exam on the models. There was verbal consensus on clinical findings; however estimates on thyroid properties and size differed. Additional experiments with an ultrasound provided feedback on use of the model for hands-on and ultrasound-based examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Calvin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pugh
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D016544:Patient Simulation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011312:Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*