Medical Student, Medical Training, Simulation Based Learning, Ultrasound
Conditions
Keywords
Medical Education, Ultrasound Simulation, PC-Based Training Tool, Thoracic Ultrasound, Abdominal Ultrasound, Cost-effective Simulator, Clinical Skills Development
Brief summary
Brief Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a cost-effective, PC-based ultrasound training tool is as effective as a traditional, medium-cost ultrasound simulator for teaching third-year medical students thoracic and abdominal ultrasound skills. This study focuses on improving access to high-quality ultrasound training in educational settings with limited resources. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the PC-based tool help participants improve their ability to optimize ultrasound images in a way comparable to the traditional simulator? 2. Can participants using the PC-based tool identify and interpret pathological conditions with the same accuracy as those using the traditional simulator? Participants are third-year medical students enrolled in a structured internship. They will: 1. Watch educational videos covering key concepts in thoracic and abdominal ultrasound imaging. 2. Rotate through training stations where they will practice using either the PC-based tool or the traditional simulator. 3. Perform hands-on exercises with healthy volunteers to practice image acquisition and recognition of anatomical structures. 4. Complete pre- and post-training assessments to measure their progress in skills such as image optimization and identifying pathological conditions. This study aims to explore whether a low-cost digital solution can provide equal educational value, offering a practical alternative to traditional simulators in resource-limited settings.
Interventions
DEVICEPC-Based Ultrasound Training Tool
An interactive, PowerPoint-based PC tool designed to simulate pathology recognition and ultrasound image optimization for medical students. It provides real ultrasound videos and images, allowing students to practice diagnostic interpretation and image acquisition in a structured training format.
DEVICETraditional Ultrasound Simulator (VausSim)
A medium-cost ultrasound simulator used for hands-on training in thoracic and abdominal ultrasound. It allows medical students to practice probe handling, image acquisition, and pathology recognition in a controlled simulation environment.
Sponsors
University of Turin, Italy
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Third-year medical students enrolled in the Approach to Ultrasound internship. * Participants who have completed the preliminary blended learning videos on thoracic and abdominal ultrasound techniques. * Participants with or without prior minimal experience in using an ultrasound probe, provided they have not undergone formal specialized ultrasound training.
Exclusion criteria
* Inability to attend all training sessions and assessments as per the study schedule. * Physical or medical conditions that limit the ability to perform hands-on ultrasound practice (e.g., musculoskeletal injuries). * Refusal to provide informed consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improvement in Image Optimization Skills | Measured immediately before and after the training session. | Change in the Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) scores for image optimization pre- and post-training. |
| Pathology Recognition Accuracy | Measured immediately before and after the training session. | Change in the ability to identify and interpret pathological ultrasound images, scored on a scale of 0-3 (0 = no recognition, 3 = full recognition). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participant Satisfaction with Training | Measured immediately after the training session. | Participant satisfaction assessed through a Likert-scale questionnaire (1-5, where 5 = very satisfied). |
| Time Required for Image Acquisition | Measured immediately before and after the training session. | Change in the time taken to acquire specific ultrasound views in healthy volunteers and pathology recognition (measured in seconds). |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed