Background/Purpose: Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) plays a vital role as a diagnostic imaging modality in rheumatology, while also serving as an effective teaching tool to enhance medical students’ comprehension of functional anatomy. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of portable ultrasound equipment and telemedicine teaching methods ensured the continuity of practical skill instruction, with the potential to further broaden teaching prospects in medical schools going forward.

Methods: In this study we assessed and compared the learning success of medical students in MSUS, achieved through a conventional and a teledidactic course. During the theoretical teaching sessions, an ultrasound-certified course instructor (DEGUM/EFSUM level III-highest level) introduced the most important standard sections in a video-based approach using the validated course concept of the MUDE study [1] . Following that, both groups received practice time and individualized feedback during hands-on sessions. Throughout the course, all students were equipped with an 8th generation Apple iPad and a ButterflyIQ+® portable ultrasound system. To assess student learning objectively, an Objective Clinical Structured Examination (OSCE) was conducted before the course commenced and upon its completion.

Results: A total of thirty medical students in clinical semesters were randomly assigned to either a conventional on-campus cohort or a teledidactic teaching cohort, receiving virtual teaching exclusively. Prior to the course, students achieved an average score of 20.68% (SD ± 6.67) in the OSCE, whereas the average score following the course completion was 96.83% (SD ± 6.71). There were no statistically significant differences in OSCE scores between the two teaching cohorts (p=0.479), indicating that neither course was inferior to the other.

Conclusion: The teledidactic teaching concept utilizing portable ultrasound devices resulted in a significant increase in MSUS knowledge among medical students, demonstrating a comparable learning outcome to the conventional course. This worldwide pilot study extends MSUS training opportunities for medical students through innovative teaching methods, contributing to the development of future rheumatologists by emphasizing ultrasound as a crucial imaging tool in rheumatology.

[1] Grobelski J, Recker F, Wilsmann‐ Theis D, et al. Establishment and validation of a didactic musculoskeletal ultrasound course for dermatologists using an innovative handheld ultrasound system – the MUDE study (Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Dermatology). J Deutsche Derma Gesell 2021; 19: 1753–1759. doi:10.1111/ddg.14614

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/comparative-analysis-of-teledidactic-and-on-campus-training-in-musculoskeletal-ultrasound-the-telmus-study/