A Pilot Feasibility Study of teaching focused cardiac ultrasound to Australian medical students in a structured program

Background Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FCU) has become integrated into undergraduate medicine curricula but has not yet occurred in Australia. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of an FCU training program for Australian medical students. Methods Fifteen echo-naïve 2nd year medical students were invited to complete an optional 20-week FCU curriculum consisting of 10 hours of online material and weekly scanning practice on a simulator and hospitalised patients that was not included in their University assessments. Student attendance and course satisfaction were recorded. Assessment of performance and interpretation of FCU on hospitalized patients was performed using agreement of FCU with formal transthoracic echocardiography. Students assessed Left ventricular (LV) function using visual estimation method (VEM), Right ventricular (RV) size by RV: LV size ratio (> 1.0) and presence of pericardial effusion (> 5mm). Results Of the 15 eligible participants 15 enrolled in the course and 14 completed the course. Attendance at weekly tutorials was 71% (range 40–100%) and mean student satisfaction score 84% (range 60–100%) were high. Nine (60%) students performed and reported a mean of 4.2 (range 1–15) FCU scans on patients. Agreement of FCU with TTE for left ventricular systolic function was good (Ƙ 0.74, 0.4–0.90). Low prevalence of other pathologies hindered assessment of agreement. Conclusion An FCU curriculum of 10 hours of on-line learning and 20 weeks of supervised scanning by sonographers was well attended by students who reported good satisfaction and showed good agreement in separating reduced from normal left ventricular systolic function.