Online Ultrasound Curriculum on Learning Outcomes of Post-graduate Physicians

This single-center retrospective study evaluates the effectiveness of the Training Management System (TMS) ultrasound curriculum on the learning outcomes of PGY emergency physicians. By analyzing test scores and course participation data from 2018 to 2025, the study investigates whether blended learning improves PoCUS proficiency and explores its potential role in enhancing ultrasound education for junior physicians.

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Key information

Conditions

Medical Education

Age range

20 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

Current point-of-care ultrasound education faces multiple challenges. Traditional teaching methods, such as didactic lectures and bedside one-on-one training, are constrained by time, clinical workload, and faculty availability, leading to inconsistent learning outcomes. Additionally, PGY physicians, due to their limited clinical experience, struggle to develop proficiency in ultrasound in a randomized learning environment. The quality of ultrasound image acquisition and diagnostic accuracy is also highly dependent on the operator's experience. In recent years, online learning platforms, such as the Training Management System, have been introduced to enhance learning flexibility. However, the long-term impact of such platforms on trainees' clinical application remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the TMS ultrasound curriculum on the learning outcomes of PGY emergency physicians and explore the feasibility of a blended learning approach in improving ultrasound skill application. This single-center retrospective study analyzes test data from PGY trainees who participated in emergency PoCUS training between 2018 and 2025, including post-course test scores, objective structured clinical examination scores, and self-reported TMS course participation. The findings of this study may provide insights into the effectiveness of online and blended learning models in developing ultrasound proficiency among junior physicians and inform future medical education curriculum design.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

PGY trainees who participated in the Department of Emergency Medicine ultrasound training program during the study period.
Trainees with complete course participation records and assessment results.

Exclusion criteria

Non-PGY participants (e.g., senior residents, attending physicians, medical students).
Incomplete assessment data that prevents a full evaluation of learning outcomes.
Any abnormal data not meeting study criteria (e.g., recording errors or duplicate entries).

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Mean Post-Course Test Score

Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the test at 8 weeks

Mean score of participants on the post-course knowledge test (range: 0-100 points; higher scores indicate better knowledge acquisition)
Mean OSCE Rating Score

Time frame: From enrollment to completion of OSCE at 8 weeks.

Mean score of participants on the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessing ultrasound performance. The OSCE includes structured evaluation of the following domains:

Image Acquisition Quality: Clarity and completeness of target anatomical structures (e.g., blood vessels, Morrison's pouch, spleno-renal recess, cul-de-sac).

Diagnostic Accuracy: Ability to correctly interpret ultrasound findings and reach an appropriate clinical diagnosis.

Scanning Technique and Efficiency: Smoothness, probe handling, and adherence to scanning protocols.

Each domain is rated on a 10-point Likert scale (1 = Poor, 10 = Excellent), with higher scores indicating better clinical performance. The overall OSCE score is calculated as the mean of these domain scores.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Wan Ching Lien, M.D., Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+886-2-23123456 ext. 262831

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Taiwan University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Impact of TMS Ultrasound Curriculum on Learning Outcomes of PGY Emergency Physicians: A Retrospective Study

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2026
First posted: Apr 30, 2025
Registry last updated: Apr 30, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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