Evaluation of a novel simulation method of teaching B-lines: hand ultrasound with a wet foam dressing material

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching A- and B-lines, and lung sliding with a novel simulation methods using hand ultrasound. METHODS: All subjects enrolled were medical school students who were novices in lung ultrasound. All subjects attended a 20-minute lecture about lung ultrasound using simulated video clips of A-lines, B-lines, and lung sliding; and then a 20-minute post-test was administered. The post-test included questions on the presence or absence of A-lines, B-lines, and lung sliding using a random mixture of 20 real video clips and 20 simulated video clips created by using hand ultrasound with or without foam dressing materials. A Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the scores of A-lines, B-lines, and lung sliding between the real images (RG) and simulated models (SG). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the median score of the correct answers for A-lines (RG, 18; SG, 17; P=0.037). Correct answers for B-line were significantly different between RG and SG group (RG, 18; SG, 17; P=0.008). There was a statistically significant difference in the median score of the correct answers for lung sliding (RG, 16; SG, 18; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: We found this novel B-line teaching model by using a hand ultrasound with a wet foam dressing material is effective for beginners who are less experienced with lung ultrasound and pulmonary interstitial syndrome.