Self-Learning of Cardiac Ultrasound by Medical Students – Can augmented online training improve manual POCUS skills?

Abstract

Abstract Background The use of Cardiac Point Of Care Ultra-Sound is rapidly growing; so is the demand for quality POCUS teaching. POCUS teaching is usually conducted in small groups requiring much space and equipment. This study attempts to test whether providing students undergoing a POCUS course with access to a cardiac POCUS E-learning platform significantly increases students' image acquisition skills. If student performances improve, this could demonstrate the potential of E-learning technology at improving POCUS teaching without having to add extra hands-on teaching hours, making POCUS teaching cheaper, more efficient, and more accessible for all. Methods Two groups of medical students had undergone the same hands-on Cardiac POCUS course before their internal clerkship. During the clerkship, members of both study groups got to practice their newly acquired cardiac POCUS skills in the internal wards. The group was provided with accounts to a cardiac POCUS teaching E-learning platform (eMedical Academy©). A month and a half into their clerkship, both groups underwent a pre-validated ultrasound examination. The two groups' test results were then compared for each POCUS view and for the total exam score. Results The E-learning group performed significantly better than the course-only group in the six-minute exam total score, and at acquiring the following views: parasternal long axis view, apical four-chamber view, and the inferior vena cava view. Conclusion E-learning platforms can be an efficient tool for improving cardiac POCUS teaching. Using it as a supplement to a hands-on course provides better POCUS skills without the need of extra hands-on teaching.