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. 2022 Mar 12;14(1):12.
doi: 10.1186/s13089-022-00261-x.

Design and comparison of a hybrid to a traditional in-person point-of-care ultrasound course

Michael Janjigian  1 , Anne Dembitzer  2 , Caroline Srisarajivakul-Klein  3 , Aron Mednick  4 , Khemraj Hardower  4 , Deborah Cooke  4 , Sondra Zabar  4 , Harald Sauthoff  2
Affiliations

Design and comparison of a hybrid to a traditional in-person point-of-care ultrasound course

Michael Janjigian et al. Ultrasound J. .

Abstract

Background: Traditional introductory point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) courses are resource intensive, typically requiring 2-3 days at a remote site, consisting of lectures and hands-on components. Social distancing requirements resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic led us to create a novel hybrid course curriculum consisting of virtual and in-person components.

Methods: Faculty, chief residents, fellows and advanced practice providers (APPs) in the Department of Medicine were invited to participate in the hybrid curriculum. The course structure included 4 modules of recorded lectures, quizzes, online image interpretation sessions, online case discussions, and hands-on sessions at the bedside of course participant's patients. The components of the course were delivered over approximately 8 months. Those participants who completed a minimum of 3 modules over the year were invited for final assessments. Results from the hybrid curriculum cohort were compared to the year-end data from a prior traditional in-person cohort.

Results: Participant knowledge scores were not different between traditional (n = 19) and hybrid (n = 24) groups (81% and 84%, respectively, P = 0.9). There was no change in POCUS skills as measured by the hands-on test from both groups at end-of-course (76% and 76%, respectively, P = 0.93). Confidence ratings were similar across groups from 2.73 traditional to 3.0 hybrid (out of possible 4, P = 0.46). Participants rated the course highly, with an average overall rating of 4.6 out 5.

Conclusions: A hybrid virtual and in-person POCUS course was highly rated and as successful as a traditional course in improving learner knowledge, hands-on skill and confidence at 8 months after course initiation. These results support expanding virtual elements of POCUS educational curricula.

Keywords: Medical education; Point-of-care ultrasound; Program assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Participant progression through course. GIM: General Internal Medicine, BH: Bellevue Hospital
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Timeline of course components and assessments for the Traditional and Hybrid programs. K: Knowledge test, H: Hands-on test, C: Confidence survey, S: Satisfaction survey, DVT: Deep Venous Thrombosis, SST: Skin and Soft Tissue
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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