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Focal cardiac ultrasound learning with pocked ultrasound device: A bicentric prospective blinded randomized study
Author(s) -
Occelli Céline,
Carrio Gauthier,
Driessens Morgan,
Turquay Charlotte,
Azulay Nicolas,
GrauMercier Laura,
Levraut Jacques,
Claret PierreGéraud,
Contenti Julie,
Bobbia Xavier
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.23047
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrasound , randomized controlled trial , confidence interval , prospective cohort study , volunteer , cardiac ultrasound , surgery , radiology , agronomy , biology
Purpose Point‐of‐care ultrasound using a pocket‐ultrasound‐device (PUD) is increasing in clinical medicine but the optimal way to teach focused cardiac ultrasound is not clear. We evaluated whether teaching using a PUD or a conventional‐ultrasound‐device (CUD) is different when the final exam was conducted on a PUD. The primary aim was to compare the weighted total quality scale (WTQS, out of 100) obtained by participants in the two groups (CUD and PUD) on a live volunteer 2–4 weeks after their initial training. The secondary aims were to compare examination time and students' confidence levels (out of 50). Methods This bicentric, prospective single‐blind randomized trial included undergraduate medical students. After watching a 15 min video about echocardiography views, students had a 45 min hands‐on training session with a live volunteer using a PUD or a CUD. The final examination was conducted with a PUD on a live volunteer. Results Eighty‐six comparable students were included, with 4 ± 1 years of medical training. In the PUD group, the mean WTQS was 65 ± 16 versus 60 ± 15 in the CUD group [ p = 0.22; in multivariate analysis, OR 0.8 95% CI (0.1;1.6), p = 0.34]. The examination time was 10.0 [6.2–12.4] min in the PUD group versus 11.4 [7.3–13.2] in the CUD group ( p = 0.39), while the confidence level was 27.9 ± 7.7 in the PUD group versus 27.4 ± 7.2 in the CUD group ( p = 0.76). Conclusion There was no difference between teaching echocardiographic views using a PUD as compared to a CUD on the PUD image quality, exam time, or confidence level of students.