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The role for peer‐assisted ultrasound teaching in medical school
Author(s) -
Dickerson Jonathan,
Paul Katie,
Vila Pierre,
Whiticar Rebecca
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the clinical teacher
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.354
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1743-498X
pISSN - 1743-4971
DOI - 10.1111/tct.12541
Subject(s) - medicine , curriculum , ultrasonography , medical education , medical school , radiology , psychology , pedagogy
Summary Background Bedside ultrasonography has an increasing role in medicine yet medical students have limited exposure. Although countless hours are devoted to plain radiograph and electrocardiogram ( ECG ) interpretation, ultrasound is frequently glossed over. Yet this imaging modality could enhance students’ understanding of anatomy, physiology and pathology, and may increase their integration into hospital teams. We aimed to investigate whether a peer‐assisted ultrasound course has a place within the undergraduate medical curriculum. We describe the implementation of a course and discuss its acceptability and utility in student education. Bedside ultrasonography has an increasing role in medicine yet medical students have limited exposureMethods Following consultation with the medical school, an improved ultrasonography course was developed with expert guidance from an ultrasonographer and with new equipment. Sessions involved peer‐tutors teaching ultrasonography techniques to medical students during emergency medicine placements. Tutees completed questionnaires to assess the quality and perceived benefits of the course and of learning ultrasonography. Both quantitative and thematic analyses of the responses were conducted by the authors. Results Over a period of 8 months, 105 medical students received teaching across four sessions. A total of 103 students (98%) returned questionnaires on their evaluation of the course and tutors, and on their confidence in using ultrasound. Ninety‐eight per cent felt that the teaching was well delivered, 100 per cent felt that their knowledge of ultrasound had improved and 100 per cent would recommend the course. Conclusions The peer‐assisted ultrasound course described here enabled the majority of students to feel confident gaining elementary ultrasound views, and performing abdominal aneurysm screening and trauma assessments: techniques that they could hopefully put to use during their placements. The peer‐assisted model has an acceptable role in teaching emerging clinical skills to medical students.