Successful Implementation of the AIUM Standardized 4-Year Residency Ultrasound Curriculum in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Lessons Learned and Way Forward.

BACKGROUND

Significant disparities in sonographic education exist in Obstetrics and Gynecology programs in the United States. To address the lack of standardization in ultrasound teaching, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) assembled a multi-society task force in 2018 that resulted in the publication of a Consensus Report outlining a standardized ultrasound curriculum and competency assessment.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of the study was to implement the AUIM standardized curriculum within an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at a tertiary medical center, and report on the early implementation experience. The secondary objective was to assess current national practices in ultrasound training in Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs.

STUDY DESIGN

Study design was an effectiveness-implementation hybrid study of a structured ultrasound educational program based on the 2018 AIUM Consensus Report. The theoretical portion of the curriculum consisted of 26 hours of didactic lectures distributed over 4 years. For the practical component, residents received instruction from faculty and sonographers and independently acquired the required images as part of their regular clinical work. Simulator app access was also provided for additional opportunities to practice and acquire images. Deidentified images for the required competencies were uploaded to a WhatsApp group for review. Theoretical knowledge was assessed with a series of multiple-choice exams. Practical skills were assessed through grading of images submitted through WhatsApp as well as direct observations of resident scans. At the completion of 4 years, the assessment of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills was carried out using the ISUOG Basic Training Examination. National patterns in the area of ultrasound education were assessed with a four-question electronic survey of Obstetrics and Gynecology program directors in the United States. Analysis of both portions of the study was primarily descriptive.

RESULTS

Four Obstetrics and Gynecology residents completed the curriculum spanning postgraduate years 1 through 4. The number of competencies completed ranged from 7 to 19 out of 41. All of the residents passed the theoretical and practical components of the ISUOG Basic Training Examination. For the residency program director survey portion of the study, response rate was 20% (59 of 290). Among the respondents, 55.9% reported having a structured curriculum and 34.4% reported implementing the AIUM curriculum. The two most commonly cited obstacles to implementation of structured ultrasound teaching were uncertainty with how to start the process (49.2%) and lack of faculty engagement (49.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of the AIUM Curriculum within the framework of an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at a tertiary medical center is feasible. In our experimental group, completion of the curriculum resulted in passing of an internationally recognized validated assessment. Obstacles to implementation in our program included a wide range of engagement and participation among residents, and limited opportunities to obtain some of the required competencies. Identification of obstacles to implementation from the perspective of residency program directors is critical for developing targeted approaches to ensure widespread implementation. Successful standardized validated sonographic training of graduating Obstetrics and Gynecology residents is crucial for this operator-dependent modality that has tremendous implications on patient safety and clinical care.