A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Medical Residents’ Attitudes Towards Interprofessional Learning and Stereotypes Following Sonography Student-Led Point-of-Care Ultrasound Training

Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training is growing across internal medicine graduate medical education, but lack of trained faculty is a barrier to many programs. Interprofessional education (IPE) may offer a solution but must overcome potential biases of trainees. Aim To evaluate the impact of an interprofessional POCUS training on residents’ attitudes towards interprofessional learning and stereotypes. Setting Midwestern health sciences university. Participants Diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) students ( n = 13) served as teachers for first-year internal medicine residents (IMR) ( n = 49). Program Description DMS students participated in a train-the-trainer session to learn teaching strategies via case-based simulation, then coached IMR to acquire images of the kidneys, bladder, and aorta on live models. Program Evaluation Mixed-methods evaluation, including pre-/post-surveys and focus group interviews. The survey response rate was 100% (49/49 IMR). Composite survey scores evaluating residents’ attitudes towards IPE and stereotyping of sonographers improved significantly following the intervention. Qualitative analysis of focus group interviews yielded four themes: enhanced respect for other disciplines, implications for future practice, increased confidence of DMS students, and interest in future IPE opportunities. Discussion Interprofessional POCUS education can improve residents’ perceptions towards IPE, increase their level of respect for sonographers, and motivate interest in future interprofessional collaboration.