Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Using Simulation Models to Train Clinicians in the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Published on: August 9, 2024
Educational assessment of medical student rotation in emergency ultrasound
J Christian Fox1, Seric Cusick, William Scruggs
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.
Background:
Medical student ultrasound education is sparse. In 2002, we began the first medical student rotation in emergency ultrasound.
Objective:
To evaluate if medical students can learn and retain sonographic skills during a two- or four-week elective.
Methods:
We gave students an exam on the first and last days of the rotation. Six months later, students took the exam a third time. A control group was used for comparison.
Results:
Over a 19-month period, we enrolled 45 students (25 on the two-week and 20 on the four-week elective). The four-week student post-test score was significantly better than the two- week post-test score (81% vs 72%, p=0.003). On the six-month exam, the four-week student post-test score was significantly better than the two-week post-test score (77% vs 69%, p=0.008). The control group did not statistically improve.
Conclusion:
Medical students can learn bedside ultrasound interpretation with clinical integration and retain the knowledge six months later.
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