Evaluating the Efficacy of a Cost-Effective PC-Based Tool as a Non-Inferior Alternative to Traditional Ultrasound Simulators in Medical Education
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Not specified
- Sponsor
- University of Turin, Italy
- Enrollment
- 408
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Improvement in Image Optimization Skills
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
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:
- Does the PC-based tool help participants improve their ability to optimize ultrasound images in a way comparable to the traditional simulator?
- 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:
- Watch educational videos covering key concepts in thoracic and abdominal ultrasound imaging.
- Rotate through training stations where they will practice using either the PC-based tool or the traditional simulator.
- Perform hands-on exercises with healthy volunteers to practice image acquisition and recognition of anatomical structures.
- 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.
Investigators
Samuel Agostino
PhD, Research Technician
University of Turin, Italy
Eligibility Criteria
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.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Improvement in Image Optimization Skills
Time Frame: 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
Time Frame: 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 Outcomes
- Participant Satisfaction with Training(Measured immediately after the training session.)
- Time Required for Image Acquisition(Measured immediately before and after the training session.)