Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
FoCUS cardiac ultrasound training for undergraduates based on current national guidelines: a prospective, controlled,
Johannes Weimer1, Peter Rolef2, Lukas Müller3
1Rudolf-Frey Lernklinik, Department of Medicine, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany. weimer@uni-mainz.de.
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 η2part = 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 η2part = 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.
More Related Videos
06:50Troubleshooting FoCUS Image Acquisition: Patient Positioning, Transducer Manipulation, and Image Optimization
Published on: March 3, 2023
10:38Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:17Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion,...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:20Ultrasound I: Abdominal Ultrasonography
Abdominal ultrasonography, commonly known as abdominal ultrasound, is a vital, non-invasive medical imaging technique widely used in healthcare.
Procedure:
This diagnostic tool allows the clinician to visually inspect internal structures within the abdomen, including vital organs such as the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, and spleen.
The abdominal ultrasound process begins with applying a special gel to the patient's skin over the abdomen. This gel enhances the...
01:24Imaging Studies II: Ultrasonography
01:19Assessing Blood pressure using a doppler ultrasound
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Doppler Ultrasound Blood Pressure Assessment:
Preparation of Equipment:
01:28Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview