Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial
Abstract Introduction Ultrasound is important in heart diagnostics, yet implementing effective cardiac ultrasound requires training. While current strategies incorporate digital learning and ultrasound simulators, the effectiveness of these simulators for learning remains uncertain. This study evalu...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06564-y |
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| author | Johannes Matthias Weimer Franziska Marietta Sprengart Thomas Vieth Sebastian Göbel Anna Dionysopoulou Rebecca Krüger Jan Beer Andreas Michael Weimer Holger Buggenhagen Roman Kloeckner Lukas Pillong Johanna Helfrich Elias Waezsada Philipp Wand Julia Weinmann-Menke |
| author_facet | Johannes Matthias Weimer Franziska Marietta Sprengart Thomas Vieth Sebastian Göbel Anna Dionysopoulou Rebecca Krüger Jan Beer Andreas Michael Weimer Holger Buggenhagen Roman Kloeckner Lukas Pillong Johanna Helfrich Elias Waezsada Philipp Wand Julia Weinmann-Menke |
| author_sort | Johannes Matthias Weimer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Ultrasound is important in heart diagnostics, yet implementing effective cardiac ultrasound requires training. While current strategies incorporate digital learning and ultrasound simulators, the effectiveness of these simulators for learning remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of simulator-based versus human-based training in Focused Assessed with Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE). Materials and methods This single-centre, prospective, randomised controlled study was conducted during an extracurricular FATE workshop (approximately 420 min) for third-year medical students. Participants were randomly assigned to the study group (training solely on simulators) or the control group (training on human subjects). Both groups completed a theory test and a self-assessment questionnaire before the course (T1) and at the end of the training (T2). At T2, all participants also completed two Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) tests—one on the simulator (DOPSSim) and one on humans (DOPSHuman). Results Data from 128 participants were analysed (n = 63 study group; n = 65 control group). Both groups exhibited increased competency between the T1 and T2 self-assessments and theory tests (p < 0.01). In the DOPSHuman assessment at T2, the control group performed significantly better (p < 0.001) than the study group. While motivation remained consistently high among both groups, the study group rated their “personal overall learning experience” and the “realistic nature of the training” significantly worse than the control group (p < 0.0001). Both groups supported the use of ultrasound simulators as a “supplement to human training” (study: 1.6 ± 1.1 vs. control: 1.7 ± 1.2; p = 0.38), but not as a “replacement for human training” (study: 5.0 ± 2.3 vs. control: 5.4 ± 2.1; p = 0.37). Conclusion Both simulator- and human-based training effectively developed theoretical and practical skills in FATE. However, the simulator group demonstrated significantly poorer performance when applying their skills to human subjects, indicating limitations in the transferability of this simulator-based training to real-life patient care. These limitations of simulator-based ultrasound training should be considered in future training concepts. Clinical trial number Not Applicable. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3344918b934f43ea9e12bd000044faa4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-3344918b934f43ea9e12bd000044faa42025-08-20T02:53:44ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-01-0125111410.1186/s12909-024-06564-ySimulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trialJohannes Matthias Weimer0Franziska Marietta Sprengart1Thomas Vieth2Sebastian Göbel3Anna Dionysopoulou4Rebecca Krüger5Jan Beer6Andreas Michael Weimer7Holger Buggenhagen8Roman Kloeckner9Lukas Pillong10Johanna Helfrich11Elias Waezsada12Philipp Wand13Julia Weinmann-Menke14Rudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzRudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzRudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzRehabilitation Center Bayerisch GmainDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzRudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzDepartment of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg Trauma Research Group, Heidelberg University HospitalRudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzInstitute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus LübeckDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of SaarlandDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, University of SaarlandClinic for Electrophysiology, Heart and Diabetes Centre NRW, Ruhr University BochumDepartment of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav CarusDepartment of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University MainzAbstract Introduction Ultrasound is important in heart diagnostics, yet implementing effective cardiac ultrasound requires training. While current strategies incorporate digital learning and ultrasound simulators, the effectiveness of these simulators for learning remains uncertain. This study evaluates the effectiveness of simulator-based versus human-based training in Focused Assessed with Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE). Materials and methods This single-centre, prospective, randomised controlled study was conducted during an extracurricular FATE workshop (approximately 420 min) for third-year medical students. Participants were randomly assigned to the study group (training solely on simulators) or the control group (training on human subjects). Both groups completed a theory test and a self-assessment questionnaire before the course (T1) and at the end of the training (T2). At T2, all participants also completed two Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) tests—one on the simulator (DOPSSim) and one on humans (DOPSHuman). Results Data from 128 participants were analysed (n = 63 study group; n = 65 control group). Both groups exhibited increased competency between the T1 and T2 self-assessments and theory tests (p < 0.01). In the DOPSHuman assessment at T2, the control group performed significantly better (p < 0.001) than the study group. While motivation remained consistently high among both groups, the study group rated their “personal overall learning experience” and the “realistic nature of the training” significantly worse than the control group (p < 0.0001). Both groups supported the use of ultrasound simulators as a “supplement to human training” (study: 1.6 ± 1.1 vs. control: 1.7 ± 1.2; p = 0.38), but not as a “replacement for human training” (study: 5.0 ± 2.3 vs. control: 5.4 ± 2.1; p = 0.37). Conclusion Both simulator- and human-based training effectively developed theoretical and practical skills in FATE. However, the simulator group demonstrated significantly poorer performance when applying their skills to human subjects, indicating limitations in the transferability of this simulator-based training to real-life patient care. These limitations of simulator-based ultrasound training should be considered in future training concepts. Clinical trial number Not Applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06564-ySimulation-based trainingHigh-Fidelity SimulationUltrasound educationFATEFOCUSRandomized controlled trials |
| spellingShingle | Johannes Matthias Weimer Franziska Marietta Sprengart Thomas Vieth Sebastian Göbel Anna Dionysopoulou Rebecca Krüger Jan Beer Andreas Michael Weimer Holger Buggenhagen Roman Kloeckner Lukas Pillong Johanna Helfrich Elias Waezsada Philipp Wand Julia Weinmann-Menke Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial BMC Medical Education Simulation-based training High-Fidelity Simulation Ultrasound education FATE FOCUS Randomized controlled trials |
| title | Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography fate for undergraduate medical students results from the fatesim randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Simulation-based training High-Fidelity Simulation Ultrasound education FATE FOCUS Randomized controlled trials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06564-y |
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