Simulation-based training in ultrasound – where are we now?

The concept and use of simulation in medical education is garnering increasing support from the different specialties in response to the continuous efforts to mitigate preventable errors and promote patient safety. Duty hour reforms that led to reduction of the number of work hours in residency training has also motivated the call to establish other training paradigms to equip junior doctors with the skills and competences to provide quality patient care [1]. There is ample evidence to support the value proposition of simulation. Several studies have shown simulation to be an effective and valuable educational intervention both for training and assessment; and its efficacy in regard to transfer from the training laboratory to the clinical environment has been explored including its impact on patient outcomes [2] [3] [4]. Radiology is not averse to simulation-based training. In recent years, simulation-based education has been adapted by the field and is used extensively providing low-risk and immersive training opportunities for radiology trainees to acquire basic and advanced technical skills [5]. Several simulation-based training programs such as basic ultrasound (US), US-guided interventions, interpretation skills, professionalism, and team training have been incorporated in the pre-graduate and post-graduation medical education curricula [5]. The need to develop simulation-based training programs for different ultrasound-guided procedures has been exemplified in a Europe-wide needs assessment that aimed to investigate the training needs of radiology residents [6]. This needs assessment process involved key opinion leaders from different European countries who identified and achieved consensus on 26 procedures for simulation. Ultrasound procedures were highly ranked such as basic skills (i. e. probe handling), abdominal ultrasound; and ultrasound of kidneys, retroperitoneum, intestines, and scrotum. The next step is to develop simulation-based training programs based on these identified needs and to align to the vision of harmonizing training and education of radiologists across Europe as advocated by the European Society of Radiology (ESR) [7].

Publication History

Article published online:
15 June 2021

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