Ultrasound for Volume Assessment in Patients with Shock: Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention for Fourth-year Medical Students

FoCUS cardiac ultrasound training for undergraduates based on current national guidelines: a prospective, controlled, single-center study on transferability

INTRODUCTION

In emergency and critical-care medicine, focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is indispensable for assessing a patient's cardiac status. The aim of this study was to establish and validate a peer-to-peer-supported ultrasound course for learning FoCUS-specific skills during undergraduate studies at a German university.

METHODS

A 1-day, 12 teaching units training course was developed for students in the clinical section of medical college, with content based on the current national guidelines. A total of 217 students participated in the study (97 in the course group and 120 in the control group). The course and the participants' subjective assessment of improved skills were evaluated using a questionnaire (7-point Likert scale; 7 = complete agreement and 1 = no agreement at all). Objective learning gains were assessed by tests before and after the course. These consisted of a test of figural intelligence (eight items) and a test of technical knowledge (13 items).

RESULTS

The course participants experienced significant improvement (P < 0.001) from before to after the course, with a large effect size of η²_part = 0.26. In addition, the course group had significantly better results (P < 0.001) than the control group in the post-test, with a medium to large effect size of η²_part = 0.14. No significant differences (P = 0.27) were detected in the test section on figural intelligence. The evaluations showed that the participants had a high degree of satisfaction with the course approach, teaching materials, and tutors. There was also a positive increase in their subjective assessment of their own skills, including areas such as technical knowledge, ultrasound anatomy, and performance of the examination.

CONCLUSION

The results of both the objective learning assessment and the subjective evaluations suggest that a FoCUS course originally intended for qualified physicians is equally suitable for students. With the development and provision of modern digital teaching media, even more students will be able to benefit from this approach in the future.

Application Value of Emergency Bedside Echocardiography in Early Warning of Acute and Severe Shock and Clinical Classification

Objective

A case-control study was conducted to explore the application value of emergency bedside echocardiography in early warning of acute and severe shock and clinical classification.

Methods

A total of 135 critically ill patients admitted to ICU from August 2019 to November 2020 were divided into shock group (n = 53) and nonshock group (n = 82) according to the occurrence of shock. The internal diameter index of inferior vena cava was measured and recorded by bedside ultrasound in patients with shock before and after treatment and in patients without shock. Shock index and inferior vena cava diameter deformation index (SCI) were calculated according to the results. The diagnostic time and curative effect of different ultrasonic examination methods for the types of shock were compared and analyzed.

Results

At admission, the maximum and minimum ventilation of inferior vena cava in patients without shock were higher than those in the shock group, and the internal diameter deformation index of inferior vena cava in the shock group was higher than that in the shock group (P < 0.05). In the shock group, IVCmax and IVCmin before and after treatment were higher than those before resuscitation, while SCI was lower than that before resuscitation. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that SCI and IVCmin were significantly better than IVCmax and IVCmin in predicting shock area and slightly better than IVCmin. There was significant difference in diagnosis time between the two groups (P < 0.05). The specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of emergency ultrasound diagnosis were lower than those of clinical diagnosis (P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of emergency ultrasound diagnosis were lower than those of clinical diagnosis (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the emergency ultrasound group were higher than those of the routine ultrasound group (P < 0.05). The diagnosis rate of shock type AUC in the emergency ultrasound group was 0.854, and the diagnostic value was high.

Conclusion

IVCmax, IVCmin, and SCI obtained by bedside ultrasound have certain clinical significance for the diagnosis and treatment of shock. Emergency bedside ultrasound examination and measurement of shock patients are helpful to quickly evaluate and identify the types of early shock.

Working with entrustable professional activities in clinical education in undergraduate medical education: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are increasingly used in undergraduate medical education (UME). We conducted a scoping review to summarize the evidence for the use of EPAs in clinical rotations in UME.

METHODS

We searched multiple databases for scoping reviews based on the PRISMA guidelines for articles reporting qualitative and quantitative research, as well as conceptual and curriculum development reports, on EPAs in UME clinical rotations.

RESULTS

We identified 3309 records by searching through multiple databases. After the removal of duplicates, 1858 reports were screened. A total of 36 articles were used for data extraction. Of these, 47% reported on EPA and EPA-based curriculum development for clerkships, 50% reported on implementation strategies, and 53% reported on assessment methods and tools used in clerkships. Validity frameworks for developing EPAs in the context of clerkships were inconsistent. Several specialties reported feasible implementation strategies for EPA-based clerkship curricula, however, these required additional faculty time and resources. Limited exposure to clinical activities was identified as a barrier to relevant learning experiences. Educators used nationally defined, or specialty-specific EPAs, and a range of entrustability and supervision scales. We found only one study that used an empirical research approach for EPA assessment. One article reported on the earlier advancement of trainees from UME to graduate medical education based on summative entrustment decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

There is emerging evidence concerning how EPAs can be effectively introduced to clinical training in UME. Specialty-specific, nested EPAs with context-adapted, entrustment-supervision scales might be helpful in better leveraging their formative assessment potential.

Point-of-care Ultrasound Training During an Emergency Medicine Clerkship: A Prospective Study

Aim This study evaluated the effects of three-hour instructor-led training courses in the Extended Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) and Rapid Ultrasound in Shock and Hypotension (RUSH) protocols on knowledge gain and retention by final-year medical students. Methods This prospective study evaluated 79 final year medical students participating in an emergency medicine (EM) clerkship during the 2017-2018 academic year. None of the included students had prior formal ultrasound training or hands-on experience. All students participated in three-hour training courses on the EFAST and RUSH protocols, with training on each protocol involving one hour of didactic training and two hours of practical training. Knowledge improvement was measured by testing before and after each course, and knowledge retention was evaluated on a final clerkship multiple choice question (MCQ) examination. Results Median scores were significantly higher after rather than before both the EFAST (15; range, 12-19 vs. 7; range, 2-18; p < 0.0001) and RUSH (16; range, 6-20 vs. 6; range, 1-13; p < 0.0001) courses. EFAST knowledge was significantly higher than RUSH knowledge before (p = 0.04) but not after (p = 0.82) taking the respective course. The RUSH score was significantly lower than the EFAST score on the final clerkship MCQ examination (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Three hours of instructor-led ultrasound training given during an EM clerkship significantly increased knowledge of both the EFAST and RUSH protocols. Knowledge retention after two weeks was higher for the EFAST than the RUSH protocol. A longer period of RUSH training may improve the retention of knowledge.

Image quality to estimate ventricular ejection fraction by last year medical students improves after short courses of training

BACKGROUND

Transthoracic echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing cardiac conditions but medical education in this field is limited. We tested the hypothesis that a structured theoretical and supervised practical course of training in focused echocardiography in last year medical students results in a more accurate assessment and more precise calculation of left ventricular ejection fraction after ten patient examinations.

METHODS

After a theoretical introduction course 25 last year medical students performed ten transthoracic echocardiographic examination blocks in postsurgical patients. Left ventricular function was evaluated both with an eye-balling method and with the calculated ejection fraction using diameter and area of left ventricles. Each examination block was controlled by a certified and blinded tutor. Bias and precision of measurements were assessed with Bland and Altman method.

RESULTS

Using the eye-balling method students agreed with the tutor's findings both at the beginning (88%) but more at the end of the course (95.7%). The variation between student and tutor for calculation of area, diameter and ejection fraction, respectively, was significantly lower in examination block 10 than in examination block 1 (each p < 0.001). Students underestimated both the length and the area of the left ventricle at the outset, as complete imaging of the left heart in the ultrasound sector was initially unsuccessful.

CONCLUSIONS

A structured theoretical and practical transthoracic echocardiography course of training for last year medical students provides a clear and measurable learning experience in assessing and measuring left ventricular function. At least 14 examination blocks are necessary to achieve 90% agreement of correct determination of the ejection fraction.

Structured, Small-group Hands-on Teaching Sessions Improve Pre-clerk Knowledge and Confidence in Point-of-care Ultrasound Use and Interpretation

Introduction

Many undergraduate medical education (UME) programs have begun adopting point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) curricula, reflecting the increasing ubiquity of this technique across medical specialties. The structures of international PoCUS curricula have been extensively studied. However, the efficacy of these curricula to increase knowledge and confidence in PoCUS is less well-studied. We investigated whether a structured, small-group PoCUS teaching session consisting of pre-defined learning objectives, an introductory presentation, and a mandatory hands-on scanning component would increase pre-clerk knowledge of and confidence in PoCUS theory, use, and interpretation.

Methods

A pre-post study was designed to assess changes in pre-clerk knowledge and confidence in PoCUS theory, use, and interpretation. Pre-clerks were recruited from the Hamilton campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. Pre-clerks were organized into four groups, with an average group size of seven learners. Two preceptors each taught two groups. Sessions included an introductory PowerPoint presentation and one-on-one preceptor-guided practice in identifying abdominal and genitourinary structures using PoCUS. Student responses on pre- and post-intervention surveys were analyzed to identify changes in knowledge and confidence. Student satisfaction with the teaching session was assessed from self-reported levels of agreement with satisfaction statements. The strengths and areas of improvement for the teaching sessions were identified from open-ended survey responses.

Results

Data from 27 students indicated a significant improvement in knowledge test scores (p < .05), with no significant differences between groups (F(3,23) = 0.64, p = n.s.) or between students with different preceptors (p = n.s.). Students’ confidence in PoCUS use and interpretation improved significantly (p < .05 for both), with no significant differences between groups (F(3,23) = 0.70, p = n.s. and F(3,23) = 0.32, p = n.s., respectively) or between students with different preceptors (p = n.s. for both). Improvements in knowledge of and confidence in PoCUS use were significantly correlated (r = .44, p < .05). All of the students agreed that they liked the instruction, content, and structure of the teaching session. The most frequently cited strengths of the teaching sessions were the mandatory individual practice time per student, individualized instruction from and interactions with preceptors, and the small group structure of the sessions.

Conclusion

This study provides novel evidence that a structured, small-group teaching session featuring a didactic presentation, defined learning objectives, and mandatory hands-on learning can effectively teach introductory PoCUS knowledge and skills to pre-clerks and increase student confidence. Future studies will investigate the retention and application of PoCUS knowledge and skill throughout clerkship and early residency training to determine if this teaching model can facilitate longitudinal PoCUS learning and competency as well as improved diagnostic capabilities as students advance through undergraduate medical training.