Dedicated Point-of-care Ultrasound Training Leads to Improved Confidence, Knowledge, and Skill Performance Amongst...

To assess the impact of dedicated training on the knowledge, skill performance, and comfort in performing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) within a residency setting.

A POCUS curriculum was developed and instituted at 2 institutions. The course included pre- and post-course surveys, monthly organ-based online modules (including education slides and narrated lectures) for independent review, pre- and post-module knowledge quizzes, and a hands-on skills assessment associated with each organ module using 2 validated assessment tools. All data were collected via institutional RedCap system (NIH CTSA UL1TR002537). Paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and Friedman tests were performed (P<.05).

Twenty-five residents (17 Institution 1, 8, Institution 2) completed the full course, of which 23 had baseline minimal comfort with POCUS and limited prior use. Significant improvement in POCUS knowledge was observed across all modules (P<.01). Additionally, quantitative skill performance significantly improved through sequential modules. Median overall comfort in using POCUS significant improved from minimal (2.1) to moderate (3.1, P<.001), as well as in all subdomains (all P<.05). Hundred percent of residents agreed or strongly agreed that they would recommend the course to future residents.

Dedicated training led to significant improvements in knowledge, skill performance, and comfort performing POCUS studies amongst urology residents. Further research is needed to assess the long-term retention of these skills. Dissemination of this curriculum to other training programs is underway.