Effectiveness of "teaching the teachers" initiative for ultrasound training in Africa

To determine the effectiveness of a comprehensive educational program that trained a group of physicians in diagnostic ultrasound (US), so that they would return to their respective countries to train others with the intent of helping to standardize knowledge and improve the quality of US in Africa. Additionally, to compare the effectiveness of this program to that of a similar, but larger, program.

Twelve physicians from sub-Saharan Africa were selected for an intensive 3-month training program sponsored by Radiological Society of North America Research and Education Foundation Grant in all aspects of diagnostic US. A 100-item open-ended test was used to assess learning and retention of knowledge by administration of the same test at three points: at entry into the program, at completion, and 6-month follow-up. Findings were compared with the previously published results of a larger study.

Mean test scores increased significantly from a mean of 58.4% at entry to 76.8% at end-of-program. The mean 6-month follow-up test score (79.1%) was slightly higher than posttest and approached significance, similar to the larger group. Nine of the 12 physicians were selected to establish affiliated ultrasound training programs.

The results of this testing process are both statistically and clinically significant, because they document an increase in knowledge at the end of an intensive 3-month training program, similar to the results reported for a larger group. There was retention and even slight improvement in the physicians' knowledge at 6-month follow-up, a time during which they were teaching others in their home countries in Africa.