Summary
The abstract discusses the integration of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) into the curriculum of Harvard Medical School and how students perceive these efforts. The study introduced ultrasonography to first- and second-year medical students through didactic and hands-on sessions during gross anatomy and the physical exam course. A post-assessment survey measured students’ attitudes, understanding, and knowledge of ultrasound and its applications to learning the physical exam.
The results indicate that all first-year anatomy students (n=176) participated in small group hands-on ultrasound sessions, and in the second-year physical diagnosis course, 38 students participated in four sessions. An overwhelming majority of students (91%) agreed that additional ultrasound teaching should be incorporated into the four-year medical school curriculum.
In conclusion, this study demonstrates that POCUS can effectively be integrated into the medical school curriculum through didactic and small group hands-on sessions. Medical students found ultrasound training valuable for understanding human anatomy and learning physical examination skills, highlighting its potential as an additional learning modality. Future goals include expanding ultrasound education throughout all four years of medical school.
