Evaluating the effectiveness of a lower extremity venous phantom on developing ultrasound examination skills and confidence.

Introduction: The aims of this study were: (1) Determine the effect on student ultrasound scanning skills using a lower extremity venous ultrasound phantom in addition to standard teaching methods of didactic lecture and scanning live volunteers and (2) Determine the effect of using a lower extremity venous ultrasound phantom in addition to standard teaching methods of didactic lecture and scanning live volunteers on student confidence levels in performing the lower extremity venous ultrasound examination.

Methods: Participants were first year diagnostic medical sonography students with minimal scanning experience ( = 11), which were randomized into two groups. Group 1 ( = 5) received the standard didactic lecture and attended a scan lab assessment where they performed a lower extremity venous examination on a human volunteer.