Ultrasound skills assessment and curriculum development in medical education: a narrative review

The review investigates challenges in implementation and presents approaches for integrating ultrasound into medical education. A thorough examination of recent literature was conducted to evaluate curriculum development for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) education in different databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Qualitative thematic data synthesis was used to evaluate the collected evidence.  The review identifies an increased number of studies for curriculum development for POCUS education, indicating the need for instructional adjustments. Simulation is one of the most important educational methods in this era. New teaching methods, particularly in emergency settings, enhance competency among medical residents. Studies demonstrate the value of POCUS in resource-limited environments, showing its advantages in early diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. Furthermore, assessment of POCUS skills is fundamental in its education, aligning curriculum development with learning outcomes. Emerging techniques and consensus-based checklists are advancing ultrasound skills assessment. Case studies show the positive impact of POCUS on patient care and the need for continued efforts to improve its accessibility and proficiency among medical professionals. Integrating formal training and POCUS into primary care settings are important steps for high-quality patient care, especially in the emergency room. There is a trend of increased use of POCUS education in medical universities, while standardized educational curriculums and assessment methods are still being discussed.