Clinical Research Directory

Self-Directed Learning for Pulmonary Ultrasound Education

This study compared two ways of teaching medical students how to recognize lung conditions using ultrasound images. All participants were third-year medical students taking part in a structured ultrasound training session at the University of Turin. Students were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group learned lung ultrasound pathology recognition with direct guidance from a tutor. The other group used a self-directed digital learning tool called MEDQUIZ, which allowed students to review clinical cases and ultrasound videos independently. The main goal of the study was to determine whether self-directed learning was equivalent to tutor-guided instruction for recognizing pulmonary ultrasound findings. Students completed ultrasound image-based assessments before and after the training. The assessments evaluated their ability to recognize anatomical structures, distinguish normal from abnormal findings, and identify specific lung conditions such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, interstitial syndrome, and pneumothorax. The study also evaluated student satisfaction with the learning experience.

Ultrasound Simulation or Traditional Ultrasound Training for General Practitioners?

The goal of this study is to compare two different educational methods for training general practitioners (GPs) in point-of-care ultrasound. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Does the use of ultrasound phantoms and simulators result in superior post-course ultrasound skills compared to traditional training methods involving healthy volunteers? Researchers will compare a group trained with traditional methods (scanning healthy volunteers) to a group trained using ultrasound phantoms and simulators to see if the different training methods result in different levels of ultrasound proficiency. Participants will: * Be 24 general practitioners randomized into two groups of 12. * Receive training in five clinical ultrasound examinations: 1) Aortic abdominal aneurism, 2) gallstones, 3) pleural effusion, 4) hydronephrosis, and 5) free fluid in the abdomen (FAST scan). * Begin with e-learning, followed by two in-person teaching seminars. * Train at their clinics between course days: first on healthy volunteers, then on indicated patients. * Upload scans to an online learning platform and receive feedback from instructors. * Be assessed after 90 days using the validated Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) tool, with blinded evaluators.