Using Simulation-Based Training to Incorporate Lung Ultrasound Into Physical Examination

Dyspnea is a common symptom encountered frequently by medical practitioners. The differential diagnosis for a patient with such a symptom is broad and time consuming, while immediate management for distressed patients is what is desired. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a relatively new technique that will help physicians more accurately diagnose and manage patients who present with dyspnea.

Focused medical ultrasonography education is becoming integrated into many physician residency training programs. Recent studies indicate a possible relationship between focused ultrasonography training in medical school curricula and improved physical examination accuracy. Thus, a short-term training program in LUS during medical school will have a major impact on physicians to be comfortable in using this skill when dealing with distressed patients in their prospective residency training. It will reduce educational burdens for physician residency programs and improve overall physician competency.

Simulation-based medical education (SBME) is ideally suited for offering effective training in a zero-risk environment. It enables trainees to gain knowledge and confidence in dealing with stressful clinical scenarios without exposing patients to any additional risk. SBME has also been shown to be a reliable tool for assessing learners' procedural skills and for teaching topics such as teamwork and communication.

The investigators hypothesize that simulation-based training of medical students will enable them to more effectively evaluate patients with shortness of breath using LUS.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Medical Students,Lung Ultrasound,Simulation Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Using Simulation-Based Training to Incorporate Lung Ultrasound into Physical Examination

• Study Type: Observational

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Medical Students

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Third year medical students who signed the consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• a medical student who is not a third year and/or didn't signed the consent

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
medical students	Other: Using Simulation-Based Training to Incorporate Lung Ultrasound into Physical Examination

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Assess the pre and post-performance of medical students in using lung ultrasound (LUS) for patients with shortness of breath.	We designed the Thoracic Ultrasound Knowledge and Skills-Assessment Test (TUKSAT) which consists of questions about correctly identifying different organs using ultrasound (US) as well image acquisition skills as an objective measurement for students. Study participants will receive simulation-based LUS training through a course provided by a physician experienced in LUS as two sessions at the first week of their medical clerkship. TUKSAT as a pre-evaluation measure will be given. During the next 7 weeks, participants will be asked to see videos of LUS images where they will be asked to interpret the findings. A post-evaluation TUKSAT will then be given.	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Measure diagnostic agreement between trainees and experienced physicians in LUS following simulation-based medical education..	Following their simulation-based training, participants will have videos of LUS images where they will be asked to interpret the findings. Diagnostic agreement will be compared between trainees' LUS finding and experienced physicians.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Tulane University Health Sciences Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fayez Kheir, MD,MSc, Tulane University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): September 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 22, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 28, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): June 2, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 609459-1