Implementing Ultrasound Education: An Active Learning Programme (Skills Labs) for Midwifery Students

Background: Since 2011, in Italy, midwives have been allowed to use Point-of-Care-Ultrasound as a tool for maternal and fetal monitoring.This skill can only be acquired through training.Aim: This pilot study aimed to implement a learning program for developing practical skills required for ultrasound in the third trimester of pregnancy using a field-based laboratory teaching approach.Additionally, the study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching methodology.Methods: The approved experimental study was conducted at a university in northern Italy between July 2023 and June 2024.The initiative involved thirty-seven second-and third-year students (Group A) and fourteen first-year students (Group B).In addition to standard coursework, Group A participated in a two-hour session, which entailed viewing instructional video tutorials and creating a checklist.Subsequently, each student in Group A performed five scans on pregnant women.The study sample (83 women) included singleton pregnancies in the third trimester.Learning progress was evaluated using the prepared checklist.Group B students were assigned to perform ultrasound scans, without having participated in the training session.This study used the validated Student Satisfaction and Self-confidence in Learning Scale to assess the effectiveness of the teaching methodology.Findings: The findings indicated that the project was efficacious.Group A students demonstrated a high level of satisfaction.Conclusion: Consequently, there is a strong case for incorporating this initiative into the core curriculum of the three-year midwifery degree program.The researchers propose a follow-up one year after to ascertain the long-term retention of the acquired skills.