Integrated Thyroid Ultrasound Education for Second Year Medical Students
David Bahner, MD, RDMS
Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
Dr. Bahner graduated from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 1995. He completed a residency in emergency medicine from the Ohio State University in 1998. During his residency he became very active in ultrasound and completed his RDMS certification in 2000. Since then he has taken an active role in ultrasound education and systemizing training across undergraduate and graduate medical education. Besides developing asynchronous learning aids as applications, websites or twitter feeds, he has developed the role of ultrasound in simulation at Ohio State and integrated it into medical student, resident and fellow training. He has been active at the national level serving as the inaugural emergency ultrasound section leader at the AIUM and the first emergency physician to sit on its Board of Governors. He is the inaugural chair of the AIUM's medical student ultrasound education interest group and champions the integration of ultrasound throughout medical school. He continues to champion ultrasound education and has established an Ultrasound Academy at Ohio State with multiple opportunities for medical students, residents and faculty to learn sonographic techniques in simulated environments and during clinical cases. He has lectured and written multiple papers on ultrasound education, simulation, social media, wireless ultrasound, and shock. He continues to advocate for the safe and early use of ultrasound in the medical encounter and the requisite benefits from the portable focused use of bedside ultrasound.
Abstract
Background Ultrasound is being used in the clinical practice of Endocrinology as a point of care tool for thyroid disorders because of low cost, safety, and real time images. However, there are no published articles... [ view full abstract ]
Background
Ultrasound is being used in the clinical practice of Endocrinology as a point of care tool for thyroid disorders because of low cost, safety, and real time images. However, there are no published articles describing mandatory, hands on ultrasound-based teaching of normal and pathological thyroid anatomy for medical students as part of an Endocrinology curriculum. The goal of this study is to evaluate the educational impact of an integrated point of care thyroid ultrasound module during the Endocrinology curriculum designed to supplement teaching of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the thyroid gland.
Methods
Mandatory thyroid ultrasound sessions were held following thyroid anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology didactics as part of the organ-based Endocrinology curriculum block for second year medical students. Prior to the session, students were given a multiple-choice pre-test to assess baseline knowledge. Sessions consisted of a brief introductory didactic followed by small groups of students performing hands-on ultrasound scanning of normal and pathologic thyroids. Proctors provided real-time technique feedback and facilitated interactive learning about neck anatomy and pathophysiology. Students were administered a post-test following the hands-on teaching session. The results of this test were compared to individual pre-test scores to assess for effect from the intervention. Students were also asked to complete a course evaluation rating the value of each component of the educational session using a five point Likert scale.
Results
A total of 194 second year medical students attended the thyroid ultrasound session. Of those, 137 students (70.6%) completed both the pretest and the post-test. Students scored significantly higher on the post-test compared to pretest (t=9.12, df=136, p<0.001, Cohen’s D effect size=.99). This supports a statistically large effect size with an average gain of 12.9 percentage points from pretest to post-test. The majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that the session was a relevant supplement to their course work (98.9%) and was an effective learning experience (97.3%). In addition, they agreed or strongly agreed that as a result of this experience they had a better understanding of thyroid anatomy (95.1%) and a better understanding of the clinical utility of ultrasound (96.8%). Students thought the most valuable components of the experience were the ability to perform hands-on ultrasound and also the presence of patients with known thyroid pathology.
Conclusions
This pilot study showed a positive educational impact of incorporating interactive small group, hands-on thyroid ultrasound sessions as part of the Endocrine medical student curriculum. In addition, students felt that this experience improved their learning of both endocrinology and ultrasonography.
Authors
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Raheela Khawaja
(Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH)
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Brittany Shrefler
(Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH)
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David Way
(Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH)
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David Bahner, MD, RDMS
(Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH)
Topic Area
Use of ultrasound in Undergraduate Medical Education
Session
A06 » Oral Presentation 1: Ultrasound in Undergraduate Medical Education (13:00 - Friday, 23rd September, TTU SUB / Soapsuds )
Paper
LSIThyroidUS-AbstractforWorldCongress.pdf
