Integrating Ultrasound Scanning into the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum

Provan, L., Humphreys, R. and Varsou, O. (2018) Integrating Ultrasound Scanning into the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum. SINAPSE ASM 2018, Edinburgh, UK, 25 Jun 2018.

Abstract

Medical technology and its integration into clinical practice has advanced significantly over the past decade, yet its integration into undergraduate medical education has not been fully explored. Patients, carers and clinicians benefit from new medical advances as these improve diagnostics and deliver more effective management (HoCHC 2005). Ultrasound is increasingly utilised by non-specialist healthcare providers across a range of specialities. Specifically, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) allows the undertaking of goal-oriented diagnostics and delivery of therapies at the bedside. Ultrasound scanning (USS) has become an integral part of national guidelines for ward-based invasive procedures including central venous catheterisation and chest drain insertion (NICE 2002; AAGBI 2016; British Thoracic Society 2010). The benefit of incorporating ultrasound into the undergraduate medical curriculum is twofold with the potential to enhance the students’ learning experience both in terms of their clinically-applied anatomical knowledge and practical clinical skills. Firstly, ultrasound can be used as a teaching adjunct to augment the understanding of anatomical structures, their relations and physiological functions (Swamy 2012). Secondly, incorporating ultrasound into the undergraduate medical curriculum also improves student’s clinical skills (Osborn 2012). It is important to bear in mind that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) lies in the interphase between physical examination and clinical investigations and is an expected skill of many junior doctors. It would therefore be advantageous to introduce basic ultrasound at the undergraduate level to lessen pressures on the postgraduate curriculum. Ultrasound has been successfully integrated within the surface anatomy sessions at the University of St. Andrews allowing students to first recognise key anatomical structures that are then immediately identified in ultrasound imaging. It has provided students with an exciting and stimulating learning opportunity, while familiarising themselves with a commonly used bedside imaging technique; hence increasing their confidence with its use and perhaps reducing the learning load at the postgraduate stage.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Varsou, Dr Ourania
• Authors: Provan, L., Humphreys, R., and Varsou, O.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences