OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to create and describe a homemade, high-fidelity ultrasound phantom model for demonstrating pneumonia with pleural effusions for teaching purposes.
DISCUSSION: An ultrasound phantom was constructed using a water-filled latex glove with a sliver of meat in it, covered over by a palm-sized piece of meat (skin and ribs are optional to increase ultrasonographic details and realism). This would appear like parapneumonic effusions with organized pneumonia under ultrasound examination. Creamer (or talc) can be added to the water in the glove to simulate empyema. The model can also be used to teach simple effusions and for ultrasound-guided thoracentesis and in clinical decision making.
CONCLUSIONS: Easily prepared, homemade high-fidelity ultrasound phantom models for instructions on identification of pleural effusions and ultrasound-guided pleural tap of parapneumonic effusion were made.
METHODS: Participants consisting of junior doctors were randomized into either the (1) gamified or the (2) conventional educational approach for ultrasonographic training.
RESULTS: A total of 31 junior doctors participated in this study (16 participants in gamified arm, 15 in the conventional arm after one participant from the conventional arm dropped out due to work commitment). Two-way mixed ANOVA test showed that there was no statistically significant interaction between the types of educational approach and time of testing (pre-test, post-test, 2 months post-training) for both theoretical knowledge score and practical skills score, with F(2, 58) = 39.6, p point-of-care ultrasonographic training.
METHODS: The POCT was used to test 170 serum specimens collected through measles surveillance or vaccination programmes in Ethiopia, Malaysia and the Russian Federation: 69 were positive for measles immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, 74 were positive for rubella IgM antibodies and 7 were positive for both. Also tested were 282 oral fluid specimens from the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) surveillance programme of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Microimmune measles IgM capture enzyme immunoassay was the gold standard for comparison. A panel of 24 oral fluids was used to investigate if measles virus haemagglutinin (H) and nucleocapsid (N) genes could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction directly from used POCT strips.
FINDINGS: With serum POCT showed a sensitivity and specificity of 90.8% (69/76) and 93.6% (88/94), respectively; with oral fluids, sensitivity and specificity were 90.0% (63/70) and 96.2% (200/208), respectively. Both H and N genes were reliably detected in POCT strips and the N genes could be sequenced for genotyping. Measles virus genes could be recovered from POCT strips after storage for 5 weeks at 20-25 °C.
CONCLUSION: The POCT has the sensitivity and specificity required of a field-based test for measles diagnosis. However, its role in global measles control programmes requires further evaluation.