Impact and reception of point-of-care ultrasound training across medical education levels

BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a versatile and cost-effective technology that can significantly enhance medical education and clinical practice. This study examines the acceptance of POCUS among medical students and explores strategies to optimize its integration into their training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 318 medical students, spanning both preclinical and clinical semesters, participated in seminars that included POCUS demonstrations and hands-on practice. Their perceptions were assessed through a voluntary questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which furthermore explored the ideal timing and potentially suitable subjects for integrating POCUS into the curriculum, with an emphasis on its role in developing clinical skills and supporting decision-making. RESULTS: Among preclinical students, 60.7% had no prior ultrasound exposure, while 97% of clinical students reported some experience, albeit often limited. Despite the majority of senior students having some ultrasound experience, many lacked confidence in its use. Confidence in sonography skills was generally low across both groups, with 95.9% of preclinical and 79.4% of clinical students expressing a lack of confidence. Importantly, both preclinical and clinical students recognized the high usefulness of POCUS skills and rated the technology as user-friendly, with clinical students perceiving it as slightly easier to use. When asked to identify the most suitable subjects for POCUS training, students most frequently cited anatomy (35.2%) and internal medicine (16.7%). Additionally, a majority of students (57.7%) advocated for POCUS education to begin as early as the first semester. CONCLUSION: This study highlights a significant gap in ultrasound training among medical students, while also underscoring their strong motivation to learn and their positive perception of POCUS as a valuable tool for enhancing clinical skills and decision-making. The findings emphasize that early integration of sonography into the medical curriculum is both highly desired by students and essential for advancing medical education. This is particularly timely and important given the growing role of artificial intelligence in ultrasound technology and the opportunities expected to emerge from this integration.