Study Shows Web-Based Tutorials Are an Effective Tool for Teaching Technical Skills in Pediatric Ultrasound

Sept. 16, 2016— Web-based tutorials are an effective method of teaching technical skills in pediatric ultrasound to radiology fellow and resident trainees, according to a study published in the September 2016 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).

“Ultrasound Tutorials in Under 10 Minutes: Experience and Results,” an international study that evaluated trainees in the United States and Ethiopia, concluded that viewing video tutorials resulted in significant increases in confidence and hands-on skills when performing pediatric ultrasound. The study is available through open access on the AJR website available here. 

“Radiology training programs need a comprehensive curriculum that includes tools for evaluation delivered in a manageable point-of-care format,” said study author Susan J. Back, a radiologist with The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a faculty member of The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. “The addition of short, web-based tutorials that combine teaching skills in a micro-learning format resulted in significant increases in knowledge and skills among our study participants.”

The study evaluated the assessments of 18 radiology trainees who viewed 10 short (each less than 10 minutes) video tutorials. The participants included pediatric radiology fellow and resident trainees from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and its partner, Black Lion Hospital at the University of Addis Ababa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Direct observation skills assessments and surveys were administered before and after participants watched the tutorials.  The trainees also completed questionnaires that assessed the reach, appeal, and learning effectiveness of the 10 modules. The complete 10-module curriculum, which is available at the point of care during daily workflow, is a highly effective adjunct to pediatric ultrasound skills training in both the U.S. and the international pediatric radiology community, the study concluded.

Founded in 1900, ARRS is the first and oldest radiology society in the United States, and is an international forum for progress in radiology. The Society's mission is to improve health through a community committed to advancing knowledge and skills in radiology. ARRS achieves its mission through an annual scientific and educational meeting, publication of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) and InPractice magazine, topical symposia and webinars, and print and online educational materials. ARRS is located in Leesburg, VA.