TY  - JOUR
AU  - Meuwly, Jean-Yves
AU  - Mandralis, Katerina
AU  - Tenisch, Estelle
AU  - Gullo, Giuseppe
AU  - Frossard, Pierre
AU  - Morend, Laura
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/1
TI  - Use of an Online Ultrasound Simulator to Teach Basic Psychomotor Skills to Medical Students During the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown: Quality Control Study
JO  - JMIR Med Educ
SP  - e31132
VL  - 7
IS  - 4
KW  - anatomy
KW  - computers in anatomical education
KW  - internet application in anatomy
KW  - medical education
KW  - ultrasonography
KW  - ultrasound
KW  - simulation
KW  - simulator
KW  - psychomotor
KW  - motor skills
KW  - medical students
KW  - teaching
AB  - Background: Teaching medical ultrasound has increased in popularity in medical schools with hands-on workshops as an essential part of teaching. However, the lockdown due to COVID-19 kept medical schools from conducting these workshops. Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe an alternative method used by our medical school to allow our students to acquire the essential psychomotor skills to produce ultrasound images. Methods: Our students took online ultrasound courses. Consequently, they had to practice ultrasound exercises on a virtual simulator, using the mouse of their computer to control a simulated transducer. Our team measured the precision reached at the completion of simulation exercises. Before and after completion of the courses and simulator’s exercises, students had to complete a questionnaire dedicated to psychomotor skills. A general evaluation questionnaire was also submitted. Results: A total of 193 students returned the precourse questionnaire. A total of 184 performed all the simulator exercises and 181 answered the postcourse questionnaire. Of the 180 general evaluation questionnaires that were sent out, 136 (76%) were returned. The average precourse score was 4.23 (SD 2.14). After exercising, the average postcourse score was 6.36 (SD 1.82), with a significant improvement (P<.001). The postcourse score was related to the accuracy with which the simulator exercises were performed (Spearman rho 0.2664; P<.001). Nearly two-thirds (n=84, 62.6%) of the students said they enjoyed working on the simulator. A total of 79 (58.0%) students felt that they had achieved the course’s objective of reproducing ultrasound images. Inadequate connection speed had been a problem for 40.2% (n=54) of students. Conclusions: The integration of an online simulator for the practical learning of ultrasound in remote learning situations has allowed for substantial acquisitions in the psychomotor field of ultrasound diagnosis. Despite the absence of workshops, the students were able to learn and practice how to handle an ultrasound probe to reproduce standard images. This study enhances the value of online programs in medical education, even for practical skills. 
SN  - 2369-3762
UR  - https://mededu.jmir.org/2021/4/e31132
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/31132
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34723818
DO  - 10.2196/31132
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/31132
ER  -