Comparative Evaluation of Self-Learning Versus Instructor-Guided Cardiac Ultrasonography Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Cardiology

Background:

• Point-of-care ultrasonography (PoCUS) enhances medical diagnostics.
• Integrating PoCUS into medical curricula faces challenges like cost, time, and varied teaching methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if simulator-based self-learning for cardiac PoCUS is noninferior to traditional instructor-guided teaching.
• To assess the effectiveness of self-directed learning in acquiring cardiac ultrasonography skills.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 116 medical students at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
• Participants were assigned to either simulator-based self-learning or instructor-guided training.
• Post-training assessments evaluated image acquisition, quality, and pathology identification.

Main Results:

• The self-learning group showed higher overall test scores (81.6% vs 77.2%) compared to the instructor-guided group.
• The self-learning group significantly outperformed in obtaining the apical 2-chamber view (81.3% vs 68.3%, P=.04).
• No significant differences were found in cardiac pathology identification or overall scores when adjusted for covariates.

Conclusions:

• Simulator-based self-learning is a noninferior alternative to instructor-guided teaching for cardiac PoCUS training.
• This approach can potentially increase the number and proficiency of PoCUS operators.
• Widespread adoption may improve diagnostic capabilities and patient outcomes across medical specialties.