Point-of care ultrasound in undergraduate medical education: a survey of University of British Columbia medical student attitudes

Abstract

Objectives: Ultrasound is a low cost, rapid, and safe imaging modality with expanding roles across many specialties. Integration of ultrasound into undergraduate medical education is concomitantly becoming more common, particularly to enhance regional anatomy and as an extension of the physical examination.  In this study, medical students were surveyed after attending a hands-on ultrasound symposium to investigate their views on ultrasound in undergraduate medical education.  

Methods: We surveyed 59 University of British Columbia (UBC) medical students after attending a 4-hour ultrasound symposium.  A likert scale was used to query students on perceived comfort with ultrasound before and after the symposium, the effect of ultrasound on anatomical knowledge of the scanned areas, and opinions on ultrasound training in undergraduate medical education.

Results: Students indicated that attending the symposium significantly improved their comfort with obtaining basic abdominal, vascular, pleural, and cardiac ultrasound images. As well, anatomical knowledge of the scanned areas was significantly improved. Collectively, students appear to strongly support the integration of ultrasound into their medical undergraduate education.

Conclusions: Ultrasound appears to be a potentially valuable medical undergraduate learning resource, and UBC medical students would support integrating ultrasound into all years of their undergraduate medical training.