TY - JOUR

T1 - E-learning and practical performance in musculoskeletal ultrasound

T2 - a multicentre randomized study

AU - Carstensen, Stine Maya Dreier

AU - Just, Søren Andreas

AU - Velander, Marie

AU - Konge, Lars

AU - Hubel, Martin Slusarczyk

AU - Rajeeth Savarimuthu, Thiusius

AU - Pfeiffer Jensen, Mogens

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Terslev, Lene

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - ObjectivesTo examine the effect of pre-course e-learning on residents’ practical performance in musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS).MethodsThis was a multicentre, randomized controlled study following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement. Residents with no or little MSUS experience were randomized to either an e-learning group or a traditional group. One week before a 2-day face-to-face MSUS course, the e-learning group received access to an interactive platform consisting of online lectures, assignments, and practical instruction videos aligned with the content of the course. The traditional group only received standard pre-course information (program, venue, and time). All participants performed a pre- and post-course practical MSUS examination and were assessed by two individual raters, blinded to the group allocation, using the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) tool.ResultsTwenty-eight participants completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the pre- or post-course practical MSUS performance between the e-learning group and the traditional group; the mean pre-course OSAUS score (S.D.) in the -learning group was 5.4 (3.7) compared with 5.2 (2.4) in the traditional group (P = 0.8), whereas the post-course OSAUS score in the e-learning group was 11.1 (2.8) compared with 10.9 (2.4) in the traditional group (P = 0.8). There was a significant difference between the mean pre- and post-course scores (5.74 points, P < 0.001). The OSAUS assessment tool demonstrated good inter-rater reliability (intra-class correlation = 0.84).ConclusionWe found no significant impact of pre-course e-learning on novices’ acquisition of practical MSUS skills. Hands-on training is of the utmost importance and improves MSUS performance significantly. The OSAUS assessment tool is an applicable tool with high interrater reliability.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT04959162.

AB - ObjectivesTo examine the effect of pre-course e-learning on residents’ practical performance in musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS).MethodsThis was a multicentre, randomized controlled study following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement. Residents with no or little MSUS experience were randomized to either an e-learning group or a traditional group. One week before a 2-day face-to-face MSUS course, the e-learning group received access to an interactive platform consisting of online lectures, assignments, and practical instruction videos aligned with the content of the course. The traditional group only received standard pre-course information (program, venue, and time). All participants performed a pre- and post-course practical MSUS examination and were assessed by two individual raters, blinded to the group allocation, using the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) tool.ResultsTwenty-eight participants completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the pre- or post-course practical MSUS performance between the e-learning group and the traditional group; the mean pre-course OSAUS score (S.D.) in the -learning group was 5.4 (3.7) compared with 5.2 (2.4) in the traditional group (P = 0.8), whereas the post-course OSAUS score in the e-learning group was 11.1 (2.8) compared with 10.9 (2.4) in the traditional group (P = 0.8). There was a significant difference between the mean pre- and post-course scores (5.74 points, P < 0.001). The OSAUS assessment tool demonstrated good inter-rater reliability (intra-class correlation = 0.84).ConclusionWe found no significant impact of pre-course e-learning on novices’ acquisition of practical MSUS skills. Hands-on training is of the utmost importance and improves MSUS performance significantly. The OSAUS assessment tool is an applicable tool with high interrater reliability.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ NCT04959162.

U2 - 10.1093/rheumatology/kead121

DO - 10.1093/rheumatology/kead121

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36943374

VL - 62

SP - 3547

EP - 3554

JO - Rheumatology

JF - Rheumatology

SN - 1462-0324

IS - 11

ER -