Development of a national point-of-care ultrasound training course for physicians in Japan: A 3-year evaluation

<strong>Purpose</strong>: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) allows bedside clinicians to acquire, interpret, and integrate ultrasound images into patient care. Although the availability of POCUS training courses has increased, the educational effectiveness of these courses is unclear. <strong>Methods</strong>: From 2017 to 2019, we investigated the educational effectiveness of a standardized 2-day hands-on POCUS training course and changes in pre- and post-course exam scores in relationship to participants’ (n = 571) clinical rank, years of POCUS experience, and frequency of POCUS use in clinical practice. <strong>Results</strong>: The mean pre- and post-course examination scores were 67.2 (standard deviation [SD] 12.3) and 79.7 (SD 9.7), respectively. Higher pre-course examination scores were associated with higher clinical rank, more years of POCUS experience, and more frequent POCUS use (p &lt; 0.05). All participants showed significant changes in pre- to post-course exam scores. Though pre-course scores differed by clinical rank, POCUS experience, and frequency of POCUS use, differences in post-course scores according to participant baseline differences were non-significant. <strong>Conclusion</strong>: A standardized hands-on POCUS training course is effective for improving POCUS knowledge regardless of baseline differences in clinical rank, POCUS experience, or frequency of POCUS use. Future studies shall evaluate changes in POCUS use in clinical practice after POCUS training.**研究目的**：床旁超声（Point-of-care ultrasound, POCUS）可让临床医师在病床旁获取、解读超声影像并将其整合至患者诊疗工作中。尽管床旁超声培训课程的可及性逐步提升，但此类课程的教学效果尚未明确。 **研究方法**：2017年至2019年，本研究针对一门标准化2天实操式床旁超声培训课程的教学效果展开调研，分析了571名参训学员的课程前后考试分数变化，及其与参训者临床职级、床旁超声从业年限、临床实践中床旁超声使用频率的关联。 **研究结果**：参训者课程前、后的平均考试分数分别为67.2分（标准差[SD] 12.3）与79.7分（标准差[SD] 9.7）。较高的课程前考试分数与更高的临床职级、更长的床旁超声从业年限及更频繁的床旁超声使用频率呈显著相关（p < 0.05）。所有参训者的课程前后考试分数均存在显著变化。尽管课程前分数因参训者的临床职级、床旁超声从业年限及使用频率存在差异，但基于参训者基线差异的课程后分数差异并不显著。 **研究结论**：标准化实操式床旁超声培训课程可有效提升参训者的床旁超声知识水平，且该效果不受参训者临床职级、床旁超声从业年限或临床使用频率等基线差异的影响。未来研究可评估床旁超声培训后，临床实践中床旁超声使用情况的变化。