Can we successfully teach novice junior doctors basic interventional ultrasound in a single focused training session?

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonography is recognised as an invaluable imaging modality for assessing critically unwell patients and obtaining vascular access. Senior emergency medicine and anaesthetic clinicians will regularly use ultrasound-guided imaging to establish vascular access for unwell patients; however, junior doctors, who are routinely the first clinicians to review deteriorating patients, are not encouraged or required to develop basic ultrasound interventional skills and are therefore ill equipped to use ultrasonography.

AIM

To demonstrate that teaching basic interventional ultrasound skills to novice junior doctors in a single focused session is an achievable outcome.

METHOD

We reviewed the success of the 'Junior doctor Ultrasound Training' (JUST) course in teaching basic interventional ultrasound skills to junior clinicians. We collated information from 237 JUST delegates. We surveyed candidates' prior ultrasound experience and retrospectively analysed their level 2 Kirkpatrick formative assessment outcome following the JUST course.

RESULTS

The overwhelming majority of doctors had no prior ultrasound experience (>95%). 99% (235) of candidates performed ultrasound to an acceptable standard to pass the formative assessment. 73% (174) achieved the course outcomes independent of faculty prompting. 1% (2) candidates failed the formative assessment.

CONCLUSION

Basic ultrasound competency is an achievable educational outcome for the overwhelming majority of novice junior doctors. Our findings add to growing evidence that early ultrasound tuition can be both valuable and economical for training clinicians. By arming junior doctors with a relevant and versatile skill set, we can provide opportunity for clinicians to develop their expertise and prepare for the future challenges of clinical medicine.