The Role of Mastery Learning in Basic Skills in Upper Abdominal Ultrasound: Insights from a Comprehensive Training Workshop for Internists
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24871/2722026134-140Keywords:
Abdominal Ultrasound, Continuous Medical Education, Mastery Learning Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Ultrasound EducationAbstract
Background: Abdominal ultrasound is an essential competency for internists, although traditional workshop often lack structured learning strategies and measurable skill outcomes. To address this limitation, mastery learning offers deliberate practice, standardized assessment, and competency-based progression. However, the use of mastery learning in abdominal ultrasound training for internists remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying mastery learning principles within a point-of-care basic upper abdominal ultrasound workshop designed for internists.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted during the JIMDACE 2025 upper abdominal ultrasound workshop. Participants were subjected to pre- and post-training assessments across six targeted skills using a standardized checklist based on the Expert Performance Method. Subsequently, real-time feedback was provided during hands-on sessions. The scores obtained were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, followed by the calculation of effect size.
Results: The results showed that the total scores of all 13 participants included in the final analysis improved from 1.750 (±1.571) at pre-test to 5 (range 0–6) at post-test. Furthermore, significant improvements were observed overall (p=0.001).
Conclusion: The mastery learning-based workshop significantly improved abdominal ultrasound competence among internists, showing feasibility and strong educational impact. This method showed potential as a foundation for future structured ultrasound training programs.
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