Sonography education in the clinical setting: The educator and trainee perspective

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Sonography Training

Background:

• Sonography is a complex clinical skill with limited published research on its teaching methodologies.
• This study investigates the perceptions of sonographer educators and trainees in Australia regarding sonography skills education.
• A secondary aim was to identify the Australian sonographer educator workforce and their teaching environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Australian sonographer educators' and trainees' perceptions of sonography skills teaching.
• To focus on the procedural aspects of sonography skill acquisition.
• To identify the current landscape of sonographer educators and training settings in Australia.

Main Methods:

• An online survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted with trainee and educator sonographers.
• Data were collected anonymously or de-identified following ethics approval and informed consent.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Most sonography education in Australia occurs in private practice settings, often with multiple trainees per practice.
• A significant portion of clinical supervisors lacked formal teaching qualifications.
• Key themes in skills teaching included the importance of observation, practice, feedback, and adaptable teaching models.

Conclusions:

• Sonography skills teaching should prioritize observation, hands-on practice, and constructive feedback for trainees.
• Sonography practices should support educators in developing their teaching skills to ensure high-quality clinical education.
• This study provides valuable insights into educator and trainee perspectives on sonography skills acquisition.