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Introduction of a student tutor-based basic obstetrical ultrasound screening in undergraduate medical education

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

While there is an increasing interest in incorporating ultrasound in undergraduate medical education and the use of student tutors in conveying this medical skill to assist faculty members, little is known about undergraduate ultrasound teaching in obstetrics and gynecology.

Methods

After a 3 week training of the student tutors, the student tutors joined an undergraduate ultrasound educational program to teach practical round students. After being certified, the student tutors organized a pre-test, gave a presentation about ultrasound, and then supervised the hands on ultrasound course under faculty staff supervision for round students. Finally, the practical round students had to answer a post-test with image recognition. The practical round students had to evaluate the course using a Likert scale.

Results

111 students joined this ultrasound course. The objective theoretical and practical multiple-choice questions’ (MCQ) test showed a statistically significant improvement (50 vs. 90%, p < 0.05). The practical round students expressed a high acceptance (Likert 1.7) and subjective medical skill learning (Likert 1.8). The students also positively graded the student tutors (Likert 1.3).

Conclusion

Student tutor-based undergraduate obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound course is a useful method to teach a medical skill and is well accepted by students.

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Acknowledgements

The authors of the paper would like to thank the committee of the Teach-the-Teacher program for inspiring us to improve the standard of medical education. We also would like to thank all the students for submitting their feedback that lead to the accomplishment of this work.

Funding

The study and manuscript were funded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Saarland.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

AH: conceptualization, methodology and project administration, validation of data and writing of the manuscript, and qualification of the tutors. JCR: formal analysis, reviewing, and editing. E-FS: funding and supervising the project, and reviewing and editing. ZT: data curation, and reviewing and editing. IJ-B: reviewing and editing. RS: reviewing and editing. RJ: reviewing and editing. NN-T: conceptualization, reviewing and editing, and basic training of the student tutors. ET: conceptualization, reviewing and editing, and basic training of the student tutors. MZ: project administration and supervision, and reviewing and editing. GM-S: conceptualization, formal analysis, methodology, project adminstration and supervision, and reviewing and editing the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Hamza.

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Hamza, A., Radosa, J.C., Solomayer, EF. et al. Introduction of a student tutor-based basic obstetrical ultrasound screening in undergraduate medical education. Arch Gynecol Obstet 300, 59–66 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05161-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05161-5

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