#112 Ultrasound guided cannulation. What do medical students think?

<h3>Introduction</h3> 72.6% of medical schools in the USA have ultrasound (US) curricula which are predominantly delivered by emergency medicine physicians (EMPs). Comparatively, in the UK, only 3 of the 44 medical schools as of June 2022 use US. Peripheral intravenous (IV) cannulation is the commonest procedure performed in hospital, approximately 1/3 of patients experience difficult IV access (IVA). A recent systematic review on educational methods for US-guided-IVA (USG-IVA) concluded that its use results in safer and more effective IVA and enhances patient care. <h3>Methods</h3> We created an USG-IVA course which was taught in multiple trusts across NI and as a pilot project in the Ulster University (UU). Feedback was obtained at the end of each session via ‘SurveyMonkey’. Here we present feedback from the medical students only. During the year a further question was added, ‘Do you feel USG-IVA should be considered a core skill for anyone working in an acute setting?’ <h3>Results</h3> 88 of 227 forms were from students. 100% agreed the session was useful. 100% were able to confidently identify arteries and veins, 99% agreed it improved understanding of IVA, 100% agreed the session increased their interest in point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS), 100% (of 43 respondents) felt USG-IVA should be a core skill when working in an acute setting. Thematic analysis demonstrated candidates felt our course structure, materials and teaching style were of high quality. UU now incorporates USG-IVA into their curriculum. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Within a 1-hour session we were able to increase interest in PoCUS, improve IVA understanding and teach a skill which students feel should be considered a core skill. Teaching USG-IVA is an excellent way of introducing PoCUS to medical students. It is well received and likely adds benefit to clinical care. Medical schools should look to incorporate PoCUS into their curriculums and EMPs could take the lead.