title: Structured endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) training program improved knowledge and skills of trainees: Results from the Asian EUS Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A major reason impeding the growth of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in Asia is the lack of training availability. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term structured EUS training program in improving the knowledge and skill of EUS among trainees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in six workshops in six countries including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Philippines, within a year. Trainees were evaluated using written and skill tests before and after completion of the training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre- and post-workshop written tests from a total of 62 trainees were analyzed. Compared with pre-training, the trainees improved significantly in the overall mean (± SD) scores after the training (66.0 ± 0.3% to 77.5 ± 0.2%, P < 0.0001). Thirty-one trainees were randomly selected to undergo a skill test before and after the course. Compared with pre-training, the proportions of trainees who succeeded in locating each structure post-training were: celiac axis (36-80.5%), pancreatic body (51.5-80.5%), pancreatic body and tail (42-77.5%), splenic vein and artery (48.5-84%), left kidney (60-83%), and spleen (47-83%). Overall, there was a significant improvement in the proportion of trainees' successful localization of structures post-training compared to before training (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following a structured training program, trainees' knowledge and skills in EUS improved significantly. Structured training courses appear to be an effective way of imparting EUS knowledge and skills to aspiring endosonographers in the Asian region.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Myrna Huixian
authors: MH
authors: Wang
authors: University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines.
authors: Frederick
authors: F
authors: Dy
authors: 108 Military Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Van Khien
authors: VK
authors: Vu
authors: Raffles Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Lee Guan
authors: LG
authors: Lim
authors: Lahore General Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Ghias Un Nabi
authors: GU
authors: Tayyab
authors: Department of Surgery, Rajavithi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Thawee
authors: T
authors: Ratanachu-ek
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors: Dharmabandhu N
authors: DN
authors: Samarasekera
authors: Institute of Advanced Endoscopy, Mumbai, India.
authors: Vinay
authors: V
authors: Dhir
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zheng-Dong
authors: ZD
authors: Jin
authors: Kitasato University East Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Mitsuhiro
authors: M
authors: Kida
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dong Wang
authors: DW
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Hsiu-Po
authors: HP
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Anthony
authors: A
authors: Teoh
authors: Center for Interventional Endoscopy, Florida Hospital, Orlando, USA.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hawes
authors: Center for Interventional Endoscopy, Florida Hospital, Orlando, USA.
authors: Shyam
authors: S
authors: Varadarajulu
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: Yasuda
authors: Department of Medicine, National University Health System University Medicine Cluster, Singapore.
authors: Khek Yu
authors: KY
authors: Ho
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000193:education; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017145:Models, Educational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: education; endoscopic ultrasonography; endoscopy; gastrointestinal; training