Medical Student Western University of Health Sciences - COMPNW Bend, Oregon, United States
Objectives: In response to the increasing use of point of care ultrasound among multiple specialties of medicine, medical education has increased incorporation of ultrasound instruction into preclinical curriculum. Preclinical ultrasound instruction familiarizes students to a noninvasive imaging modality, as well as increases understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology. In other aspects of preclinical curriculum, such as osteopathic manual treatment lectures, students develop palpatory skills related to musculoskeletal anatomy. Taken together, ultrasound and OMT instruction may have additional benefits of improving student confidence in musculoskeletal evaluation. This program evaluation assesses the educational value of pairing supplemental ultrasound workshops following upper and lower extremity OMT lectures in improving students' overall confidence with musculoskeletal assessment.
Design: Osteopathic medical students are invited to participate in optional musculoskeletal ultrasound workshops following lectures on upper and lower extremity osteopathic manual treatment lectures. The three ultrasound workshops include practice on ultrasound evaluation of the elbow/wrist, shoulder, and knee/ankle. Participants complete an optional Likert survey following each session that assesses student’s confidence in identifying gross anatomy landmarks, performing MSK ultrasound, and conducting a MSK extremity exam after completing both the relevant lectures and ultrasound workshops.
Results: One out of three ultrasound workshops have occurred, therefore data collection is ongoing. Results from the Likert survey following the first workshop on shoulder evaluation yielded a response of n = 6. Overall, participants agree that they feel more confident in identifying and palpating gross anatomy of the shoulder, identifying structures in the shoulder with ultrasound, and performing a shoulder assessment. All students strongly agreed they enjoyed having additional ultrasound practice.
Conclusions: There are several overlapping practical anatomy skills used in musculoskeletal ultrasound and osteopathic manual treatment lectures. Integrating applied anatomy through multiple educational outlets including lectures and ultrasound workshops may be an effective strategy in improving students’ confidence with musculoskeletal evaluation.
