Evaluation of optimal education level to implement structured reporting into ultrasound training.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Ultrasound Training
• Medical Education

Background:

• Head and neck ultrasound (HNU) reporting lacks standardization, leading to variable report quality and potential miscommunication.
• This variability poses challenges in ultrasound training and impacts patient care.
• Free text reports (FTR) often lack structure, hindering consistent information delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the quality of free text reports (FTR) versus structured reports (SR) in head and neck ultrasound (HNU).
• To evaluate the impact of structured reporting at different training levels (medical students, junior residents, senior residents).
• To determine the optimal educational stage for implementing structured reporting in HNU training.

Main Methods:

• Medical students and residents (junior and senior) generated HNU reports using both SR and FTR formats.
• Reports were assessed for overall quality, time efficiency, and readability.
• User satisfaction was measured via a questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Structured reports (SR) demonstrated significantly higher quality (93.1% vs. 45.6%) across all training levels.
• SR significantly improved time efficiency (89.4 s vs. 160.2 s), particularly in early training stages.
• User satisfaction was markedly higher with SR (VAS 8.6 vs. 3.9).

Conclusions:

• Structured reporting enhances HNU report quality effectively at all training stages.
• Implementing SR early in medical school training yields the most significant time efficiency gains.
• Early adoption of structured reporting for HNU is recommended to optimize training and report consistency.