E-Posters-Six Year Experience in Teaching Pelvic Floor Ultrasonography Using Pelvic Floor Phantoms

Six Year Experience in Teaching Pelvic Floor Ultrasonography Using Pelvic Floor Phantoms - Mehrsa Jalalizadeh, MD

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A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of teaching pelvic floor ultrasonography using pelvic floor phantoms (PFPs). The workshops were sponsored by various societies and utilized a BK Flex focus ultrasound machine and transducers for imaging. The study analyzed the diagnostic skills improvement of the participants before and after the workshop. The attendees consisted of urogynecologists, urologists, physical therapists, general OB/GYN surgeons, radiologists, and anesthesiologists. The mean age of the participants was 41.0, and 76% were female.<br /><br />The workshop used PFPs to simulate pelvic anatomy for ultrasonography. These phantoms were hand-made structures designed to accurately represent human tissue in ultrasound imaging. The workshops followed the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) method to assess physician competency. The participants took a pre-workshop test and a post-workshop test, and the scores were compared to measure improvement in diagnostic skills.<br /><br />The study found a statistically significant increase in the mean total test scores of the participants after the workshop. There was also a significant increase in the percentage of correct answers in 83% of the individual questions. The improvement in diagnostic skills was observed in various categories, including vaginal imaging, anterior compartment, posterior compartment, endoanal pathology, and endovaginal pathology.<br /><br />Subgroup analysis showed that urogynecologists had significantly better test scores after the workshop compared to general gynecologists and other specialties. The study also highlighted the limitations of using PFPs and the need for further research on the effects of different teaching methods.<br /><br />In conclusion, the study demonstrated that structured workshops using pelvic floor phantoms can effectively improve participants' diagnostic skills in pelvic floor ultrasonography. The use of PFPs provides a cost-effective and practical alternative to using human models for training.

Keywords

pelvic floor ultrasonography

pelvic floor phantoms

workshops

diagnostic skills improvement

urogynecologists

OSATS method

ultrasound imaging

physician competency

structured workshops

cost-effective