Clinical trial NCT05013476: Tele-Ultrasound: VIrtual Hands-on Education for Novice Users
Official title: Tele-Ultrasound: VIrtual Hands-on Education for Novice Users
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Ultrasound
Education
Virtual
Keywords: tele-education
ultrasound
FAST
Carpal Tunnel
Lead sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-08-19
Enrollment: 49
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Participants will be divided into 2 groups which will experience different experimental conditions.
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: This study is intended to perform a comparative analysis of novice ultrasound users when taught in person versus virtually. This study aims to show that students will not demonstrate a statistical difference in scores learning in in a virtual environment, guided by professionals, when compared to students learning ultrasound in a traditional, in-person format. Utilizing a Butterfly ultrasound machine, a hand held personal ultrasound device, students wil be guided through a FAST (Focused assessment with sonography in trauma) examination and imaging of the carpal tunnel using modules and instructor aid. The FAST (Focused assessment with sonography in trauma) exam images the heart and abdomen for free flowing blood. The carpal tunnel is a region in the wrist that houses the tendons for finger movement. Participants will be assessed on the ability to identify key regions, anatomical landmarks and confidence in utilize the ultrasound machine.

Detailed description: This project intends to adapt previous research ("Innovations with tele-ultrasound in education sonography: the use of tele-ultrasound to train novice scanners") to assess the effectiveness of tele-education using the Butterfly handheld ultrasound device when compared to in person education imaging devices, learning modules and assessments will be kept constant across experimental groups. This experiment aims to adapt the current ultrasound modules used by the University of Colorado Anschutz school of Medicine and Modern Human Anatomy program to formulate in depth modules that outline the following: Carpal Tunnel (wrist), Brachial Plexus (shoulder), and FAST "Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma". Additionally, participants will be provided an orientation module that will be completed prior to the live session. Participants will be divided into either the in-person group or virtual group and participate in a live session where participants go through each module with a trained instructor. Participants will be asked to complete a pre/post assessment to determine prior knowledge and the level of learning that took place during the session as well as participant satisfaction and confidence levels.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* First year medical students enrolled at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus with minimal previous ultrasound experience.
* First year graduate students enrolled in the Modern Human Anatomy program (MHA) at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus with minimal previous ultrasound experience.

Exclusion Criteria:

* individuals younger than the age of 18.
* individuals not enrolled in the medical school or Modern Human Anatomy program (MHA) programs at Anschutz Medical Campus
* Individuals with greater than minimal ultrasound experience.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Comparison of participant assesment scores when asked to identify key features of the FAST and Carpal Tunnel between in person learners and virtual learners.
timeFrame: 10 minutes
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Student comparative confidence levels in ultrasound between virtual learners and in-person learners.
timeFrame: 1.5 hours
measure: Student comparative satisfaction levels in ultrasound between virtual learners and in-person learners.
timeFrame: 1.5 hours
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Englewood
country: United States
facility: logan T scott
state: Colorado
Study officials:
affiliation: Graduate Student, Masters in Modern Human Anatomy
name: logan T scott, B.S.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Drake AE, Hy J, MacDougall GA, Holmes B, Icken L, Schrock JW, Jones RA. Innovations with tele-ultrasound in education sonography: the use of tele-ultrasound to train novice scanners. Ultrasound J. 2021 Feb 14;13(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s13089-021-00210-0.
citation: Royer DF, Kessler R, Stowell JR. Evaluation of an innovative hands-on anatomy-centered ultrasound curriculum to supplement graduate gross anatomy education. Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Jul;10(4):348-362. doi: 10.1002/ase.1670. Epub 2016 Nov 21.
citation: Dietrich CF, Hoffmann B, Abramowicz J, Badea R, Braden B, Cantisani V, Chammas MC, Cui XW, Dong Y, Gilja OH, Hari R, Nisenbaum H, Nicholls D, Nolsoe CP, Nurnberg D, Prosch H, Radzina M, Recker F, Sachs A, Saftoiu A, Serra A, Sweet L, Vinayak S, Westerway S, Chou YH, Blaivas M. Medical Student Ultrasound Education: A WFUMB Position Paper, Part I. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2019 Feb;45(2):271-281. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.09.017. Epub 2018 Nov 27.