title: Abdominal ultrasound examination training using an ultrasound phantom and volume navigation system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using an ultrasound phantom (ECHOZY) and a volume navigation system (Vnavi) in abdominal ultrasonography training for young residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine third-year residents underwent abdominal ultrasonography training: controls, comprising five residents; and the ECHOZY + Vnavi group, comprising four residents. Residents were trained in abdominal ultrasound examinations using both educational videos and hands-on clinical training. The ECHOZY + Vnavi group also received training using an ultrasound phantom and volume navigation system. The time needed for abdominal ultrasound examination was calculated at 4 months (early), 8 months (middle), and 12 months (late) after starting training. The ability of each resident to visualize 20 abdominal structures on normal patients was also evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the early period, the ECHOZY + Vnavi group needed significantly longer to complete examinations than controls (545 ± 125 s versus 392 ± 81 s, p < 0.01), but showed significantly better ability scores (17.5 ± 0.6 versus 13.4 ± 1.1, p < 0.05). Both these differences disappeared by the middle period (338 ± 107 s versus 259 ± 130 s and 17.8 ± 0.5 versus 16.0 ± 0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In spite of longer examination times, training residents in abdominal ultrasonography using an ultrasound phantom and volume navigation system may be useful in the early period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, 343-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Chizu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uetake
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, 343-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, 343-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshikuni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dokkyo Medical University Koshigaya Hospital, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, 343-8555, Japan. mstamano@dokkyomed.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamano
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Ultrasound education; Ultrasound phantoms; Volume navigation systems