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A survey of Australian sonographer psychomotor teaching practices
Author(s) -
Nicholls Delwyn,
Sweet Linda,
Hyett Jon,
Müller Amanda
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
australasian journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2205-0140
pISSN - 1836-6864
DOI - 10.1002/ajum.12223
Subject(s) - psychomotor learning , sonographer , medical education , coaching , accreditation , motor skill , medicine , psychology , ultrasonography , cognition , surgery , psychiatry , psychotherapist
Objective To report on the findings of a survey of sonographer skill‐teaching practices in Australia using the SonoSTePs tool. Method A cross‐sectional survey of all qualified sonographers registered with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry. Results The 528 responses showed the use of a two‐step skill‐teaching approach to teach scanning skills and the incorporation of additional instructional practices to support a learner's initial acquisition of scanning skills, which include: providing coaching and guidance as the skill is practised; performing physical guidance; providing immediate error correction; and providing end‐task feedback. Based on our findings, sonographer skill‐teaching practices fall short of best pedagogical approaches. Conclusion There is a pressing need to identify the optimal pedagogical approaches to teach complex psychomotor scanning skills. Research is required to ensure that the scanning skills are taught efficiently and that the pedagogical approaches to teach scanning skills foster the learner's long‐term retention of the skill. There is also an accompanying need for sonographers involved in teaching scanning skills to have knowledge of the motor‐learning theories and principles related to teaching a complex psychomotor skill.