Improving OB/GYN Resident Ultrasound Education Through a Simulation-Based Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Surgical Skills Training

Background:

• Ultrasound proficiency is crucial for obstetrician-gynecologists, but residency training lacks standardization.
• Clinical experience and case volume significantly influence skill acquisition.
• Simulation offers a method to standardize ultrasound training and enhance hands-on skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a simulation-based ultrasound curriculum on resident confidence and logged cases.
• To compare outcomes between residents with and without simulation training.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study comparing two cohorts of postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) OB/GYN residents.
• One cohort received standard training; the other received simulation-based training prior to clinical work.
• Confidence scores and case logs were collected at the end of the PGY1 year and analyzed using paired Student t-tests.

Main Results:

• The simulation group logged fewer transvaginal (130 vs. 153) and obstetric (6 vs. 29) sonograms.
• No significant difference in end-of-year ultrasound confidence was found between the two cohorts (p > 0.17).

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training achieved comparable resident confidence levels to traditional training, despite fewer logged cases.
• Simulation may allow residents to reach similar confidence levels with fewer clinical ultrasounds.
• A standardized simulation curriculum can be a valuable addition to OB/GYN residency programs to address training variability.