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Evaluating the Efficacy of a Cost-Effective PC-Based Tool as an Equivalent Alternative to Traditional Ultrasound Simulators in Medical Education

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Title: Evaluating the Efficacy of a Cost-Effective PC-Based Tool as an Equivalent Alternative to Traditional Ultrasound Simulators in Medical Education
Language: English
Authors: Samuel Agostino (ORCID 0000-0001-9049-9877), Massimiliano Abate Daga, Francesca Novello, Federico Abate Daga (ORCID 0000-0003-3976-2443), Grazia Papotti, Franco Veglio, Alberto Milan
Source: Anatomical Sciences Education. 2025 18(11):1203-1214.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Diagnostic Tests, Acoustics, Medical Education, Simulation, Cost Effectiveness, Equipment, Medical Services, Training, Pathology, Scores, Instructional Innovation, Learning Strategies, Skill Development, Training Methods
DOI: 10.1002/ase.70115
ISSN: 1935-9772
1935-9780
Abstract: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an important skill for healthcare professionals. However, adding POCUS training to medical education can be difficult because ultrasound simulators can be expensive. This study assessed whether an interactive, PowerPoint-based computer tool could be a valid alternative to an entry-level ultrasound simulator for teaching medical students how to perform thoracic and abdominal ultrasounds. This randomized controlled equivalence trial employed a two-arm, multi-station design involving 455 third-year medical students participating in an "Approach to Ultrasound" internship. Students underwent different training methodologies, including simulation-based sessions and hands-on practice with healthy volunteers, utilizing either a traditional ultrasound simulator or an interactive PowerPoint-based application designed to simulate ultrasound scenarios. Skills in image optimization ("OSAUS score in Healthy Volunteer") and pathology recognition ("Recognizing Pathologic score") were evaluated pre-and post-training. The margin for confirming the equivalence analysis was set at 0.5 points for the primary outcome. 408 students completed the training. Both groups improved significantly after training, with mean OSAUS scores increasing by more than 1.9 points and pathology recognition scores increasing by over 1.5 points. Differences between the two groups were minimal (OSAUS: 0.06 points; pathology recognition: 0.02 points) and within the equivalence margin, showing that the PC-based tool was as effective as the simulator. Simulation-based internships are essential to medical education, providing innovative and effective learning strategies for developing ultrasound skills. Exploring new tools, such as the PC-based solution tested in this study, is essential to making this method more accessible, especially in resource-limited settings.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1488561
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Evaluating the Efficacy of a Cost-Effective PC-Based Tool as an Equivalent Alternative to Traditional Ultrasound Simulators in Medical Education
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samuel+Agostino%22">Samuel Agostino</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9049-9877">0000-0001-9049-9877</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Massimiliano+Abate+Daga%22">Massimiliano Abate Daga</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Francesca+Novello%22">Francesca Novello</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Federico+Abate+Daga%22">Federico Abate Daga</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3976-2443">0000-0003-3976-2443</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grazia+Papotti%22">Grazia Papotti</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Franco+Veglio%22">Franco Veglio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alberto+Milan%22">Alberto Milan</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Anatomical+Sciences+Education%22"><i>Anatomical Sciences Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 18(11):1203-1214.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 10.1002/ase.70115
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  Data: 1935-9772<br />1935-9780
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  Data: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an important skill for healthcare professionals. However, adding POCUS training to medical education can be difficult because ultrasound simulators can be expensive. This study assessed whether an interactive, PowerPoint-based computer tool could be a valid alternative to an entry-level ultrasound simulator for teaching medical students how to perform thoracic and abdominal ultrasounds. This randomized controlled equivalence trial employed a two-arm, multi-station design involving 455 third-year medical students participating in an "Approach to Ultrasound" internship. Students underwent different training methodologies, including simulation-based sessions and hands-on practice with healthy volunteers, utilizing either a traditional ultrasound simulator or an interactive PowerPoint-based application designed to simulate ultrasound scenarios. Skills in image optimization ("OSAUS score in Healthy Volunteer") and pathology recognition ("Recognizing Pathologic score") were evaluated pre-and post-training. The margin for confirming the equivalence analysis was set at 0.5 points for the primary outcome. 408 students completed the training. Both groups improved significantly after training, with mean OSAUS scores increasing by more than 1.9 points and pathology recognition scores increasing by over 1.5 points. Differences between the two groups were minimal (OSAUS: 0.06 points; pathology recognition: 0.02 points) and within the equivalence margin, showing that the PC-based tool was as effective as the simulator. Simulation-based internships are essential to medical education, providing innovative and effective learning strategies for developing ultrasound skills. Exploring new tools, such as the PC-based solution tested in this study, is essential to making this method more accessible, especially in resource-limited settings.
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      – SubjectFull: Diagnostic Tests
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      – SubjectFull: Acoustics
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