Online Ultrasound Curriculum on Learning Outcomes of Post-graduate Physicians

The Impact of TMS Ultrasound Curriculum on Learning Outcomes of PGY Emergency Physicians: A Retrospective Study

This single-center retrospective study evaluates the effectiveness of the Training Management System (TMS) ultrasound curriculum on the learning outcomes of PGY emergency physicians. By analyzing test scores and course participation data from 2018 to 2025, the study investigates whether blended learning improves PoCUS proficiency and explores its potential role in enhancing ultrasound education for junior physicians.

Current point-of-care ultrasound education faces multiple challenges. Traditional teaching methods, such as didactic lectures and bedside one-on-one training, are constrained by time, clinical workload, and faculty availability, leading to inconsistent learning outcomes. Additionally, PGY physicians, due to their limited clinical experience, struggle to develop proficiency in ultrasound in a randomized learning environment. The quality of ultrasound image acquisition and diagnostic accuracy is also highly dependent on the operator's experience. In recent years, online learning platforms, such as the Training Management System, have been introduced to enhance learning flexibility. However, the long-term impact of such platforms on trainees' clinical application remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the TMS ultrasound curriculum on the learning outcomes of PGY emergency physicians and explore the feasibility of a blended learning approach in improving ultrasound skill application. This single-center retrospective study analyzes test data from PGY trainees who participated in emergency PoCUS training between 2018 and 2025, including post-course test scores, objective structured clinical examination scores, and self-reported TMS course participation. The findings of this study may provide insights into the effectiveness of online and blended learning models in developing ultrasound proficiency among junior physicians and inform future medical education curriculum design.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. PGY trainees who participated in the Department of Emergency Medicine ultrasound training program during the study period.
2. Trainees with complete course participation records and assessment results.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non-PGY participants (e.g., senior residents, attending physicians, medical students).
2. Incomplete assessment data that prevents a full evaluation of learning outcomes.
3. Any abnormal data not meeting study criteria (e.g., recording errors or duplicate entries).