TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of and Gathering Validity Evidence for a Theoretical Test in Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

AU - Jacobsen, Niels

AU - Nolsøe, Christian P.

AU - Konge, Lars

AU - Graumann, Ole

AU - Dietrich, Christoph F.

AU - Sidhu, Paul S.

AU - Gilja, Odd H.

AU - Meloni, Maria F.

AU - Berzigotti, Annalisa

AU - Harvey, Chris J.

AU - Deganello, Annamaria

AU - Prada, Francesco

AU - Lerchbaumer, Markus H.

AU - Laursen, Christian B.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging modality applied in a broad field of medical specialties for diagnostic uses, guidance during biopsy procedures and ablation therapies and sonoporation therapy. Appropriate training and assessment of theoretical and practical competencies are recommended before practicing CEUS, but no validated assessment tools exist. This study was aimed at developing a theoretical multiple-choice question-based test for core CEUS competencies and gathering validity evidence for the test. An expert team developed the test via a Delphi process. The test was administered to medical doctors with varying CEUS experience, and the results were used to evaluate test items, internal-consistency reliability, ability to distinguish between different proficiency levels and to establish a pass/fail score. Validity evidence was gathered according to Messick's framework. The final test with 47 test items could distinguish between operators with and without CEUS experience with acceptable reliability. The pass/fail score led to considerable risk of false positives and negatives. The test may be used as an entry test before learning practical CEUS competencies but is not recommended for certification purposes because of the risk of false positives and negatives.

AB - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging modality applied in a broad field of medical specialties for diagnostic uses, guidance during biopsy procedures and ablation therapies and sonoporation therapy. Appropriate training and assessment of theoretical and practical competencies are recommended before practicing CEUS, but no validated assessment tools exist. This study was aimed at developing a theoretical multiple-choice question-based test for core CEUS competencies and gathering validity evidence for the test. An expert team developed the test via a Delphi process. The test was administered to medical doctors with varying CEUS experience, and the results were used to evaluate test items, internal-consistency reliability, ability to distinguish between different proficiency levels and to establish a pass/fail score. Validity evidence was gathered according to Messick's framework. The final test with 47 test items could distinguish between operators with and without CEUS experience with acceptable reliability. The pass/fail score led to considerable risk of false positives and negatives. The test may be used as an entry test before learning practical CEUS competencies but is not recommended for certification purposes because of the risk of false positives and negatives.

KW - Contrast-enhanced ultrasound

KW - Medical education

KW - Multiple-choice questions

KW - Theoretical test

KW - Ultrasound contrast agent

KW - Validity evidence

U2 - 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.10.016

DO - 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.10.016

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34815128

AN - SCOPUS:85119504082

VL - 48

SP - 248

EP - 256

JO - Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

JF - Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

SN - 0301-5629

IS - 2

ER -