Online learning for 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound of the pelvic floor

Introduction. To evaluate the feasibility of an online learning process for performing and analyzing 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted with 20 patients. The learning process of three inexperienced examiners (IEs) perf...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: García Mejido, José Antonio, Fernández Palacín, Ana, Bonomi Barby, María José, Fuente Vaquero, Paloma de la, Iglesias, E., Sáinz Bueno, José Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/161574
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/161574
https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2018.1560416
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Learning
Levator ani muscle
Pelvic floor
Transperineal ultrasound
Descripción
Sumario:Introduction. To evaluate the feasibility of an online learning process for performing and analyzing 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted with 20 patients. The learning process of three inexperienced examiners (IEs) performing and analyzing 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound volumes was evaluated. The learning process for the IEs was conducted online by an expert examiner (EE); no face-to-face tutoring was provided. The IEs’ competency and analysis of the volumes were estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The interobserver analysis of the levator hiatus dimensions provided by the EE and those from each IE (for the 20 studied cases) had ICCs ranging from 0.81 to 0.96. The dimensions of the levator hiatus performed by the IEs for the first 10 patients showed ICCs ranging from 0.55 to 0.9. However, when the IEs proceeded with the next 10 patients, they obtained ICCs ranging from 0.81 to 0.96. Conclusions: Conducting 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound of the pelvic floor is a technique that can be learned online in a short period of time. A learning programme designed specifically for this purpose provides excellent reliability.