Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound

Abstract Background Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic examination used in several medical specialties. However, the quality of ultrasound examinations is dependent on mastery of certain skills, which may be difficult and costly to attain in the clinical setting. This study aimed to explore maste...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Julie H. Post, Kristina E. Teslak, Martin G. Tolsgaard, Sten Rasmussen, Mikkel L. Friis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-12-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04919-5
_version_ 1797397971042566144
author Julie H. Post
Kristina E. Teslak
Martin G. Tolsgaard
Sten Rasmussen
Mikkel L. Friis
author_facet Julie H. Post
Kristina E. Teslak
Martin G. Tolsgaard
Sten Rasmussen
Mikkel L. Friis
author_sort Julie H. Post
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic examination used in several medical specialties. However, the quality of ultrasound examinations is dependent on mastery of certain skills, which may be difficult and costly to attain in the clinical setting. This study aimed to explore mastery learning for trainees practicing general abdominal ultrasound using a virtual reality simulator and to evaluate the associated cost per student achieving the mastery learning level. Methods Trainees were instructed to train on a virtual reality ultrasound simulator until the attainment of a mastery learning level was established in a previous study. Automated simulator scores were used to track performances during each round of training, and these scores were recorded to determine learning curves. Finally, the costs of the training were evaluated using a micro-costing procedure. Results Twenty-one out of the 24 trainees managed to attain the predefined mastery level two times consecutively. The trainees completed their training with a median of 2h38min (range: 1h20min-4h30min) using a median of 7 attempts (range: 3–11 attempts) at the simulator test. The cost of training one trainee to the mastery level was estimated to be USD 638. Conclusion Complete trainees can obtain mastery learning levels in general abdominal ultrasound examinations within 3 hours of training in the simulated setting and at an average cost of USD 638 per trainee. Future studies are needed to explore how the cost of simulation-based training is best balanced against the costs of clinical training.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T01:17:58Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ca05ec73e4714653b571b7a2842aeaec
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1472-6920
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T01:17:58Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Education
spelling doaj.art-ca05ec73e4714653b571b7a2842aeaec2023-12-10T12:22:27ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-12-012311710.1186/s12909-023-04919-5Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasoundJulie H. Post0Kristina E. Teslak1Martin G. Tolsgaard2Sten Rasmussen3Mikkel L. Friis4Aalborg University HospitalAalborg University HospitalCopenhagen Academy for Medical Education and SimulationAalborg University HospitalAalborg University HospitalAbstract Background Ultrasound is an essential diagnostic examination used in several medical specialties. However, the quality of ultrasound examinations is dependent on mastery of certain skills, which may be difficult and costly to attain in the clinical setting. This study aimed to explore mastery learning for trainees practicing general abdominal ultrasound using a virtual reality simulator and to evaluate the associated cost per student achieving the mastery learning level. Methods Trainees were instructed to train on a virtual reality ultrasound simulator until the attainment of a mastery learning level was established in a previous study. Automated simulator scores were used to track performances during each round of training, and these scores were recorded to determine learning curves. Finally, the costs of the training were evaluated using a micro-costing procedure. Results Twenty-one out of the 24 trainees managed to attain the predefined mastery level two times consecutively. The trainees completed their training with a median of 2h38min (range: 1h20min-4h30min) using a median of 7 attempts (range: 3–11 attempts) at the simulator test. The cost of training one trainee to the mastery level was estimated to be USD 638. Conclusion Complete trainees can obtain mastery learning levels in general abdominal ultrasound examinations within 3 hours of training in the simulated setting and at an average cost of USD 638 per trainee. Future studies are needed to explore how the cost of simulation-based training is best balanced against the costs of clinical training.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04919-5RadiologySimulation-based medical educationLearning curvesVirtual realityUltrasound trainingUltrasound assessment
spellingShingle Julie H. Post
Kristina E. Teslak
Martin G. Tolsgaard
Sten Rasmussen
Mikkel L. Friis
Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
BMC Medical Education
Radiology
Simulation-based medical education
Learning curves
Virtual reality
Ultrasound training
Ultrasound assessment
title Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
title_full Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
title_fullStr Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
title_full_unstemmed Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
title_short Cost of simulation-based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
title_sort cost of simulation based mastery learning for abdominal ultrasound
topic Radiology
Simulation-based medical education
Learning curves
Virtual reality
Ultrasound training
Ultrasound assessment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04919-5
work_keys_str_mv AT juliehpost costofsimulationbasedmasterylearningforabdominalultrasound
AT kristinaeteslak costofsimulationbasedmasterylearningforabdominalultrasound
AT martingtolsgaard costofsimulationbasedmasterylearningforabdominalultrasound
AT stenrasmussen costofsimulationbasedmasterylearningforabdominalultrasound
AT mikkellfriis costofsimulationbasedmasterylearningforabdominalultrasound