title: Web-based teaching in point-of-care ultrasound: an alternative to the classroom?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate two educational methods for point-of-care ultrasound (POC US) in order to: 1) determine participant test performance and attitudes in using POC US and 2) compare cost and preparation time to run the courses.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a pilot study conducted at a county teaching hospital. Subjects were assigned to participate in either a large group course with live classroom lectures (Group A) or a group asked to watch 4.5 hours of online prerecorded lectures (Group B). Both groups participated in small-group hands-on training after watching the lectures. Both groups took a pre- and post-course exam, and completed course surveys. Cost and time spent running the courses were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven physicians participated in the study. The pre-test and post-test scores between the two groups did not differ significantly. Of those with prior ultrasound experience, the majority of both groups preferred to continue classroom-based teaching for future courses. Interestingly, in the groups who had no ultrasound experience prior to their course participation, there was a higher percentage who preferred web-based teaching. Lastly, Group B was shown to have the potential to take less preparatory time when compared to Group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A web-based curriculum in POC US appears to be a promising and potentially time saving alternative to live classroom lectures and seems to offer similar educational benefits for the postgraduate learner.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Tarina Lee
authors: TL
authors: Kang
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Berona
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Marsha A
authors: MA
authors: Elkhunovich
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Medero-Colon
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: Seif
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Mikaela L
authors: ML
authors: Chilstrom
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles County and the University of Southern California (LAC + USC) Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Mailhot
keywords: attending education; classroom-based teaching; hands-on training