Oksana Helena Baltarowich MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Barry Benson Goldberg MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research support, General Electric Company

Annina Nicholas Wilkes MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Traci B. Fox BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joseph Jon Veloski MS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive ultrasound (US) training program, which utilized the "Teach the Teachers” approach to education. This program was designed to train a group of physicians in diagnostic US, so that they would return to their respective countries to train other physicians and establish similar US training programs. Additionally, the results of this program were compared to those of similar previously conducted educational programs.

Twelve physicians from the Caribbean, Central and South America were selected for an intensive 3-month training program in all aspects of diagnostic US at a large academic US teaching facility and were sponsored by an RSNA Research and Education Foundation Grant. A 100 item uncued examination (open-ended test) was used to assess knowledge by administration of the same test at three points: entry into the program, end-of-program, and 6-month follow-up. Findings were compared with the published results of two similar programs.

Mean total percent correct scores increased significantly (t=5.6278, p<0.001) from 54% at entry to 79% at end-of-program. Statistically significant (p<0.01) increases were also observed in the subtest scores for physics (+39), obstetrics (+23), gynecology (+22) and the abdomen (+22). These increases are comparable to the results reported for two previous groups. At 6-month follow-up, the mean test score was 80%, similar to the end-of-program score.

The results of this testing process are both statistically and clinically significant, because they demonstrate an increase in knowledge at the end of an intensive 3-month training program, similar to the results reported for prior groups. There was retention of the physicians' knowledge at 6-month follow-up, a time during which they were teaching others in an effort to improve the quality of US in their home countries in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

A comprehensive ultrasound program has been shown to be an effective method to teach physicians diagnostic US so they can disseminate the knowledge to others, while retaining their own proficiency.

Baltarowich, O, Goldberg, B, Wilkes, A, Fox, T, Veloski, J, Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Ultrasound Training Program for Physicians from the Caribbean, Central, and South America.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4427649.html