Equivalence Study Comparing a Cost-Effective PC-Based Ultrasound Training Tool to Traditional Simulators in Third-Year Medical Students

NCT06775899 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 219864
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 408
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Brief Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a cost-effective, PC-based ultrasound training tool is as effective as a traditional, medium-cost ultrasound simulator for teaching third-year medical students thoracic and abdominal ultrasound skills. This study focuses on improving access to high-quality ultrasound training in educational settings with limited resources. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Does the PC-based tool help participants improve their ability to optimize ultrasound images in a way comparable to the traditional simulator?
2. 2.Can participants using the PC-based tool identify and interpret pathological conditions with the same accuracy as those using the traditional simulator?
3. 3.Watch educational videos covering key concepts in thoracic and abdominal ultrasound imaging.
4. 4.Rotate through training stations where they will practice using either the PC-based tool or the traditional simulator.
5. 5.Perform hands-on exercises with healthy volunteers to practice image acquisition and recognition of anatomical structures.
6. 6.Complete pre- and post-training assessments to measure their progress in skills such as image optimization and identifying pathological conditions.

Conditions

Ultrasound; Medical Training; Simulation Based Learning; Medical Student

Keywords

Medical Education; Ultrasound Simulation; PC-Based Training Tool; Thoracic Ultrasound; Abdominal Ultrasound; Cost-effective Simulator; Clinical Skills Development

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Improvement in Image Optimization Skills

  Change in the Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) scores for image optimization pre- and post-training.

  Measured immediately before and after the training session.

• Pathology Recognition Accuracy

  Change in the ability to identify and interpret pathological ultrasound images, scored on a scale of 0-3 (0 = no recognition, 3 = full recognition).

  Measured immediately before and after the training session.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Participant Satisfaction with Training

  Measured immediately after the training session.

• Time Required for Image Acquisition

  Measured immediately before and after the training session.

Study Arms (2)

Simulator Thoracic and Abdominal

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group will receive ultrasound training using a traditional, medium-cost ultrasound simulator (VausSim). This simulator allows students to practice image acquisition and pathology recognition in a controlled environment. Training will also include hands-on practice with healthy volunteers. The performance of students in this group will be compared to those using the PC-based tool to determine if both methods produce similar learning outcomes.

Device: Traditional Ultrasound Simulator (VausSim)

PC-based tool

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will receive ultrasound training using an interactive PC-based tool. This tool provides real ultrasound images and videos to simulate pathology recognition and image optimization. Students will rotate through different training stations, including hands-on practice with healthy volunteers. The goal is to assess whether this low-cost digital tool is as effective as a traditional ultrasound simulator for teaching ultrasound skills.

Device: PC-Based Ultrasound Training Tool

Interventions

PC-Based Ultrasound Training Tool DEVICE

An interactive, PowerPoint-based PC tool designed to simulate pathology recognition and ultrasound image optimization for medical students. It provides real ultrasound videos and images, allowing students to practice diagnostic interpretation and image acquisition in a structured training format.

PC-based tool

Traditional Ultrasound Simulator (VausSim) DEVICE

A medium-cost ultrasound simulator used for hands-on training in thoracic and abdominal ultrasound. It allows medical students to practice probe handling, image acquisition, and pathology recognition in a controlled simulation environment.

Simulator Thoracic and Abdominal

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Third-year medical students enrolled in the "Approach to Ultrasound" internship.
• Participants who have completed the preliminary blended learning videos on thoracic and abdominal ultrasound techniques.
• Participants with or without prior minimal experience in using an ultrasound probe, provided they have not undergone formal specialized ultrasound training.

You may not qualify if:

• Inability to attend all training sessions and assessments as per the study schedule.
• Physical or medical conditions that limit the ability to perform hands-on ultrasound practice (e.g., musculoskeletal injuries).
• Refusal to provide informed consent.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Turin, Italy: lead

Study Sites (1)

SimTo Advanced Medical Simulation Centre

Turin, Italy, Piedmont, 10124, Italy

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Kollmann C, Flor M, Bader R. A web-based modern ultrasound diagnostic scanner simulation (SimulUS) for undergraduate medical e-learning education. Med Ultrason. 2016 Sep;18(3):408-9. doi: 10.11152/mu.2013.2066.183.kol. No abstract available.

  PMID: 27622424 BACKGROUND

• Weimer J, Recker F, Hasenburg A, Buggenhagen H, Karbach K, Beer L, Weimer A, Schiestl L, Lorenz L, Kloeckner R, Dionysopoulou A. Development and evaluation of a "simulator-based" ultrasound training program for university teaching in obstetrics and gynecology-the prospective GynSim study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2024 Apr 24;11:1371141. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1371141. eCollection 2024.

  PMID: 38721350 BACKGROUND

• Pezel T, Dreyfus J, Mouhat B, Thebaut C, Audureau E, Bernard A, Badie YL, Bohbot Y, Fard D, Nguyen LS, Monteil C, Biere L, Le Ven F, Canu M, Ribeyrolles S, Mion B, Bazire B, Fauvel C, Cautela J, Cambet T, Le Tourneau T, Donal E, Lafitte S, Magne J, Mansencal N, Coisne A; SIMULATOR investigators. Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Training on Transesophageal Echocardiography Learning: The SIMULATOR Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol. 2023 Mar 1;8(3):248-256. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2022.5016.

  PMID: 37070491 BACKGROUND

• Damewood S, Jeanmonod D, Cadigan B. Comparison of a multimedia simulator to a human model for teaching FAST exam image interpretation and image acquisition. Acad Emerg Med. 2011 Apr;18(4):413-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01037.x.

  PMID: 21496145 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Official page of the Advanced Medical Simulation Center at the University of Turin, providing resources and information about simulation-based medical education

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD, Research Technician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2025
• First Posted: January 15, 2025
• Study Start: March 4, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 25, 2024
• Study Completion: April 26, 2024
• Last Updated: January 16, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)