A pilot study: Application of paired ultrasound simulator training in obstetrics

Medical trainees in obstetrics must develop competency in fetal ultrasonography. To date, no studies have utilized ultrasound simulator training for basic fetal anatomy with paired didactic coursework. We hypothesize that ultrasound simulator training with paired didactics improves medical trainee competency in fetal ultrasonography.

A prospective observational study was performed at a tertiary care center during the 2021-2022 academic year. Medical trainees in obstetrics without prior simulator experience could participate. Participants completed ultrasound simulator training with standardized paired didactics and subsequent real-time patient scanning. All images were reviewed by the same physician for competency. Trainees completed 11-point Likert scale surveys at three time points: pre-simulator, post-simulator, and post-real-time patient scanning. Two-tailed student's t-tests with 95% confidence intervals were performed, and p-values <0.05 were considered significant.

Of the 26 trainees that completed the training, 96% reported that simulation positively impacted their confidence and ability to perform real-time scanning of patients. Self-reported knowledge of fetal anatomy, ultrasound techniques, and application to clinical obstetrics all significantly increased after simulator training (p < 0.01).

Paired ultrasound simulation with didactic instruction significantly improves medical trainees' knowledge of fetal anatomy and ability to perform fetal ultrasonography. Implementing an ultrasound simulation curriculum may become an essential tool for obstetric residency programs.