Integration of ultrasonography training into undergraduate medical education: catch up with professional needs

Objective Ultrasonography (US) has become the first-line imaging modality even for physicians who are not imaging specialists. The progress has not yet been sufficiently considered in medical education. The aim was to develop a curriculum that integrates US as a compulsory part into medical education directly from the start, to build up professional competencies toward residency. Methods Development was based on Kern's six-step approach to identify problems, specify needs, define goals, outline strategies, and propose methods. Results The proposed curriculum follows a spiral course within which students should pass through four levels of training with increasing complexity. Students will be asked to independently prepare for courses by using learning videos. On the first training level, US should be closely linked to anatomy and physiology courses. Competency-centered courses should be held in small groups. On the second level, in the third year of education, students will apply point-of-care ultrasonography concerning multiple medical disciplines. On the third level, they will select a compulsory course in a specialty of their choice, held at five consecutive dates. From then on, US will be conducted in patients. Finally, during the final year, students are expected to use US under pro-active supervision with a large degree of independence and confidence. Throughout the curriculum, the discipline of radiology combines vertically with foundational sciences and horizontally with other medical specialties. Conclusion The conceptual proposal for a longitudinal US curriculum presented here has been developed by radiologists to equip students with competencies needed for contemporary patient care.

Automated summary

This study aims to integrate US as a compulsory part into medical education and develop a spiral curriculum to build professional competencies in US. The curriculum includes four levels of training, which are closely linked to anatomy, physiology, and medical specialties. The goal of this curriculum is to integrate radiology with other disciplines and equip students with competencies needed for contemporary patient care.