Integrated Obstetric Curriculum for Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, Radiology Residency and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship program at an accredited American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Diagnostic Ultrasound Center.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the approach to developing an integrated curriculum for obstetric ultrasound training by utilizing an accredited American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine teaching platform.

METHODS

During the 1996-98 academic years, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine guidelines for ultrasound performance and training were integrated into a multifaceted training program for obstetric and radiological residents and maternal-fetal medicine fellows consisting of a structured reading program, self study of a 35-mm slide program of normal/abnormal anatomy, a basic ultrasound and fetal echocardiography interactive CD program, hands-on supervised scanning program and practical and certificate-bearing fetal echocardiography courses for fellows. All obstetric residents were given pretests and post-tests to measure learning performance in the program. The results from these tests were analyzed for statistical significance.

RESULTS

Thirteen obstetric residents completed the training program. The locally developed pretest showed a mean of 16/40 correct questions with an SD of 1.85. After completing the training, the mean obstetric resident scores on the post-test were 32/40 with an SD of 5.9. This difference was statistically significantly different, P < 0.009. Radiology residents showed an improvement from no residents passing the obstetric ultrasound portion on the 1996 Radiology Boards to 100% pass rate in 1997 (four residents per year) after completing the course. Maternal-fetal medicine fellows progressed from inability to perform acceptable fetal echocardiography to full ability to perform fetal echocardiographic examinations.

CONCLUSION

An integrated approach to obstetric ultrasound training for obstetric and radiologic residents and maternal-fetal medicine fellows with multifaceted learning methods is easily achieved with available guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.