The Future is NIRS: Muscle Oxygen Saturation as an Estimation of The Power-Duration Relationship

Purpose: Imaging concepts and skills are increasingly integrated into pre-clinical medical education, often with the aim of consolidating gross anatomy principles. This study investigates students’ attitudes towards ultrasound education, perceived effects understanding anatomy, and perceived confidence in identifying commonly encountered structures.

Method: At the end of the gross anatomy course, students completed a questionnaire consisting of 25 items on a 5-point Likert scale. Several items assessed students’ perceptions of the role and effectiveness of ultrasound teaching in gross anatomy education. The responses were analyzed, and significant findings synthesized.

Results: 197 students completed the survey. Fewer than 10% of respondents had previous ultrasound experience. Most students agreed that ultrasound sessions stimulated their interest in learning gross anatomy (67%), aided their understanding of human anatomy (81%), or helped them to identify structures on other imaging modalities such as CT and MRI (56%). Most students expressed confidence in identification of the mitral and aortic valves (55%), the hepatorenal space (58%), the abdominal aorta and its major branches (53%).

Conclusion: Students’ perception of the role of ultrasound is important for its future in medical education. Our survey shows that students’ perceptions towards ultrasound are generally positive by supplementing their understanding of gross anatomy.

Keywords:Ultrasound; Teaching; Anatomy; Medical Education