CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ultrasound Int Open 2024; 10: a23899410
DOI: 10.1055/a-2389-9410
Original Article

Insights Into Modern Undergraduate Ultrasound Education: Prospective Comparison of Digital and Analog Teaching Resources in a Flipped Classroom Concept – The DIvAN Study

1   Rudolf-Frey Teaching Department, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
2   I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Florian Recker
3   Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39062)
,
Leonie Horn
1   Rudolf-Frey Teaching Department, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Julian Kuenzel
4   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39070)
,
Klaus Dirks
5   Medical Clinic II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
Carlotta Ille
1   Rudolf-Frey Teaching Department, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Holger Buggenhagen
1   Rudolf-Frey Teaching Department, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Norbert Börner
6   Gastroenterological Medical Group Offices, MED Specialist Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
,
Andreas Michael Weimer
7   Clinic for Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidleberg, Germany
,
Thomas Vieth
1   Rudolf-Frey Teaching Department, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Liv Lorenz
8   Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Maximilian Rink
4   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39070)
,
Daniel Merkel
9   Brandenburg Insitute for Clinical Ultrasound, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane Ruppin Clinics, Neuruppin, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN646945)
,
Anna Dionysopoulou
10   Obstetrics and Gynecology, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
,
Michael Ludwig
11   Department of Internal Medicine I, Hospital of the German Armed Forces Berlin, Berlin, Germany
,
Roman Kloeckner
12   Institute of Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Schleswig Holstein Lübeck Campus, Lubeck, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN54360)
,
Julia Weinmann-Menke#
2   I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
,
Lukas Müller#
13   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany (Ringgold ID: RIN39068)
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Purpose  Sonography training has become an important part of university medicine courses. This study explores the impact of digital and analog teaching resources on learning outcomes, knowledge retention, and student preferences and motivation in a flipped classroom setting.

Materials and Methods  This prospective controlled study involving two groups of third-year medical students included a voluntary three-day compact ultrasound course given in a flipped classroom, comprising 26 teaching units of 45 minutes each. Hardcopy lecture notes (control group) and E-learning (study group) were used as teaching resources. Evaluations were conducted before (pre) and during the preparation phase (intermediate), and after (post) the face-to-face course. Likert scale responses, written theory tests with very short answer questions (Theorypre, Theoryinter, Theorypost), and practical examinations (Practiceinter, Practicepost) were used for student self-assessment and to measure attitude, motivation, as well as theoretical and practical skills.

Results  A total of N=236 complete data sets (study group n=136; control group n=100) were analyzed. Both groups showed an equivalent initial level of, and a continuous and significant (p<0.01) increase in, subjective and objective skills over the evaluated time frame. The study group achieved significantly (p<0.05) better results in Theoryinter, Theorypost, Practiceinter, and Practicepost. The study group evaluated their teaching resource and the training concept significantly (p<0.05) better.

Conclusion  The integration of digital resources into sonography education provides comparable learning outcomes to traditional analog materials, enhancing the preparatory phase. In the future, digitally supported training should be used more.

These authors contributed equally to this work and share first authorship


# These authors contributed equally to this work and share senior authorship


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 05 April 2024

Accepted after revision: 25 July 2024

Article published online:
09 October 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

Bibliographical Record
Johannes M. Weimer, Florian Recker, Leonie Horn, Julian Kuenzel, Klaus Dirks, Carlotta Ille, Holger Buggenhagen, Norbert Börner, Andreas Michael Weimer, Thomas Vieth, Liv Lorenz, Maximilian Rink, Daniel Merkel, Anna Dionysopoulou, Michael Ludwig, Roman Kloeckner, Julia Weinmann-Menke, Lukas Müller. Insights Into Modern Undergraduate Ultrasound Education: Prospective Comparison of Digital and Analog Teaching Resources in a Flipped Classroom Concept – The DIvAN Study. Ultrasound Int Open 2024; 10: a23899410.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2389-9410
 
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