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Dear Editor
Ultrasonography is increasingly used across medical specialties, including family medicine, where it can reduce diagnostic delays, improve accuracy and reduce healthcare costs1. For underserved areas, GPs with ultrasonography equipment can enhance patient care by providing timely imaging2. However, ultrasonography training in family medicine is often inadequate, leaving GPs to rely on empirical methods or informal teaching. In France, ultrasonography training is not standardized in the family medicine curriculum, although postgraduate diplomas exist in some universities. The study described in this letter evaluated the feasibility and perceived usefulness of a 1-day introductory ultrasonography course for family medicine interns at the Brest School of Medicine in Brittany, France.
In December 2022, 21 family medicine interns voluntarily participated in this course, which combined theoretical and practical sessions. Pre- and post-course surveys assessed their confidence, knowledge and perceptions. The theoretical session covered ultrasound principles and six practical applications: venous thrombosis detection, bladder volume, abscess visualization, pyelocaliceal dilation, abdominal effusion and gallstones. During the practical session, interns performed ultrasound scans on predefined anatomical sites using three ultrasound machines.
Pre-course surveys revealed that all participants had prior experience with ultrasonography during internships, mainly in emergency or gynecology settings, and 47% reported no confidence in using ultrasonography. Post-course, all participants expressed confidence in at least one clinical application. Key improvements included increased confidence in using ultrasound independently (mean score: 3.2–5.2 out of 10) and handling basic functions (4.2–6.4 out of 10). The desire for further training remained strong (7.7–8.2 out of 10). Interestingly, the likelihood of billing for ultrasound exams without further training decreased significantly (5.7–1.7 out of 10), reflecting increased awareness of their limitations (Table 1).
Conclusion
This study highlights the demand for structured ultrasonography training in family medicine. A 1-day course improved confidence and provided a foundational skill set, but participants emphasized the need for further training to ensure safe and effective use. Integrating ultrasonography into family medicine curricula nationwide could standardize training and optimize patient care, particularly in underserved areas3,4.
Dr Paul Aujoulat, Dr Jérôme Fonseca, Gabriel Perraud, Dr Jeanlin Viala, Professor Jean-Yves Le Reste and Dr Benoît Chiron
Department of General Practice and ER 7479 SPURBO, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France
Table 1: Changes in family interns’ perceptions on ultrasonography before and after a 1-day introductory course
| Survey question description | n |
Before course (mean) |
After course (mean) |
Difference (mean) |
p-value (CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desire to use ultrasound imaging in your general practice | 21 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 0.6 | 0.1008 (–1.47–0.13) |
| Confidence in using ultrasound imaging without supervision | 21 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 2.0 | 0.0023 (–3.39– –0.79) |
| Level of confidence in using the basic ultrasonography functions | 21 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 0.0021 (–3.53– –0.84) |
| Likelihood of billing for an ultrasound exam at your current level of knowledge | 21 | 5.7 | 1.7 | –4.0 | 0.0001 (2.11–5.88) |
| Likelihood of following additional ultrasonography training after this 1-day introductory course | 21 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 0.5 | 0.2898 (–1.51–0.46) |
| Relevance of ultrasound imaging in general practice | 21 | 8.2 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 0.0114 (–1.75– –0.24) |
| Probability of using ultrasonography in the future without additional training | 21 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.1868 (–2.62–0.53) |
| Probability of using ultrasonography in the future after additional training | 21 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 0.4 | 0.191 (–0.96–0.19) |
CI, confidence interval.