Echocardiography interpretation training and internal medicine milestones: A pilot study
Background/Purpose: The competency-based Internal Medicine Milestones (IMM) assesses physician training outcomes through six key competencies. This pilot study introduced IMM concepts through an echocardiography report interpretation course for postgraduate students (PGYs) and residents (Rs). We aim...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092966462400617X |
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| Summary: | Background/Purpose: The competency-based Internal Medicine Milestones (IMM) assesses physician training outcomes through six key competencies. This pilot study introduced IMM concepts through an echocardiography report interpretation course for postgraduate students (PGYs) and residents (Rs). We aimed to help young physicians understand and track competency development as they receive cardiovascular training, with a view to expanding IMM usage for all junior physicians. Methods: A single-center prospective study was conducted from August 2022 through December 2023. Pre- and post-course test scores and baseline IMM scores from 15 selected milestones were obtained. Follow-up IMM changes were tracked at the 3rd and 6th months after the course. Results: We analyzed scores of 193 junior physicians (mean age 26 ± 2 years; 68% male; 136 PGYs and 57 Rs) who attended the echocardiography report interpretation course. Of 193 participants, 77 completed the 3rd and 6th month IMM questionnaires. Compared with average pre-course scores, average post-course scores improved significantly (n = 193; 2.9 ± 1.3 vs 4.3 ± 1.3; P < 0.001) without differences between sexes or ranks (P ≥ 0.21). Post-course scores were not associated with baseline, 3rd-month, or 6th-month IMM scores (n = 77, P ≥ 0.42). IMM scores improved from baseline to 3rd month (5.8 ± 1.2 vs. 7.2 ± 1.3, P < 0.001), but plateaued from 3rd to 6th months (7.2 ± 1.3 vs. 7.2 ± 1.0, P = 0.78). Conclusion: The significant post-course scores improvements indicate that the course was taught effectively and the test questions were well-formulated. Course participants showed improvements in IMM scores as they continued clinical training. Our results offer a reference for future curriculum design and competency development for junior physicians in internal medicine. |
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| ISSN: | 0929-6646 |