Teaching Module on Ultrasound-Guided Venous Access Using a Homemade Gel Model for Fourth-Year Medical Students

INTRODUCTION: Evidence supports an ultrasound-guided approach in patients with difficult vascular access. Prior research on teaching ultrasound-guided intravenous access has included only small groups of first- and second-year medical students. METHODS: We enrolled fourth-year medical students in our teaching module. The module featured a 6-minute prelearning narrated lecture and 5-minute orientation, followed by ultrasound-guided IV placement on homemade gel models. Facilitators were emergency medicine (EM) residents with a prespecified level of procedural ultrasound skills according to EM milestones. Students completed pre- and postmodule surveys. Facilitators completed the Directly Observed Procedural Skills Evaluation. Primary outcomes included global rating, proficiency on six procedural skills, and perceived learning. RESULTS: Our module was completed by 150 fourth-year medical students (94% of the class); 84% cannulated the vein in one attempt. We used a global rating scale to describe the students' cannulation abilities; 59% were trusted to perform this procedure with direct supervision and coaching, 29% with indirect supervision, and 8% without supervision. There was no association between a student's order of attempting IV access within the group and global rating (p = .41). Students reported increased understanding of indications, antecubital anatomy, sonographic anatomy, and procedural comfort (12%, 29%, 38%, and 65% improvement pre- vs. postmodule, respectively; p < .001). DISCUSSION: Our module enabled more than one-third of fourth-year medical students to achieve an indirect supervision or better level of proficiency in ultrasound-guided IV access, with significant improvements in perceived knowledge. This module may be useful for other educators facilitating the transition to residency.