Near Peer Ultrasound Education Evaluation

Ultrasound training is incorporated throughout the medical curriculum at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) beginning in the Year 1 Physical Exam Course where students are introduced to the fundamental of Ultrasound as it pertains to each organ system being taught. In Year 2, the training is included in the Simulation Lab curriculum. In the past 4 years, ultrasound education at TCOM has become more formalized with the use of second year students as ultrasound teaching assistants. The purpose of our study is to examine the effectiveness of near peer teaching in the setting of ultrasound. Near peer teaching occurs when material is taught to students by their peers, and this has been proven to be an effective teaching technique in other settings. We hypothesized that medical students prefer near peer teaching to learn ultrasound, and that student teaching assistants will facilitate a better learning environment.

Medical students from the classes of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 were surveyed about the effectiveness of near peer education. Results were initially published at RAD 2021, however in the past 2 years the Ultrasound teaching assistant program has expanded and become more formalized. 138 medical students completed the survey, and 78% of students responded that they learn effectively during ultrasound taught near peer sessions. 67% of medical students indicated that they prefer near peer teaching to another teaching style.

In addition, the teaching assistants from the TCOM classes of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 were surveyed with 33 responses. 100% of the teaching assistants surveyed indicated that through the use of near peer education, being a TA enhanced their medical education.

Our results across multiple years of medical students demonstrate the utility of near peer teaching and that students prefer this method of learning. Point of Care Ultrasound is becoming a necessary part of medical education, as its importance in clinical medicine grows. Near peer teaching can be one way to implement ultrasound into medical school curriculums.