Dedicated Emergency Department Ultrasound Rotation Improves Residents’ Ultrasound Knowledge and Interpretation Skills

BackgroundGraduates of Emergency Medicine (EM) residency training programs are expected to be proficient in ultrasound. However, best practices for teaching residents ultrasonography has yet to be determined.Study ObjectivesTo determine if a dedicated Emergency Department (ED) ultrasound rotation objectively improves residents’ EM ultrasound knowledge, interpretation accuracy, and clinical decision-making based on ultrasound findings.MethodsEM residents completing a required ED-based ultrasound rotation were prospectively studied. Before the start of the rotation, each resident completed a 20-question pre-test. At the end of the rotation, residents completed a 20-question post-test. Both tests covered physics, trauma (focused assessment with sonography for trauma), first-trimester pregnancy, aorta, biliary, echocardiography, and vascular sonography, using a multiple-choice format. In both tests, ultrasound images were included in 11 of the 20 questions. The questions were divided into three categories: knowledge-based (8 questions), interpretation (9 questions), and clinical decision-making (3 questions), for both tests. Scores on pre-tests and post-tests were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.ResultsDuring the 2-year study period, 21 residents completed the rotation. The median pre-test score was 16 (interquartile range [IQR] 14.5–17), compared to a median post-test score of 19 (IQR 18–20), p < 0.001.ConclusionsA dedicated ED ultrasound rotation improves residents’ EM ultrasound knowledge and interpretation accuracy based on ultrasound findings, as measured by improvement on ultrasound test scores.