IG-IBD Master program three-phase competency-based IUS training curriculum¶
Design · All designs
Evidence · 8 claims (7 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 design),q3· 0 of 1 report an effect size · 8 claims rest on one study
Description¶
A standardized three-phase competency-based training curriculum implemented across eight Italian tertiary IBD centers. It comprises an intensive 8-h theoretical module covering "principles of IUS" including bowel wall anatomy, probe technical principles, vascular Doppler parameters, and case-based image interpretation; one week of supervised practical training with 30 supervised scans under expert sonographers; and an independent assessment phase of 99 examinations with blinded expert reassessment. Each trainee was paired with a single fixed expert throughout to ensure consistency in evaluation and feedback.
Design Implications¶
Context¶
Requirements¶
- Expert sonographers with >2000 IUS examinations and a pre-study calibration session to standardize assessment criteria
- Trainees paired with a single fixed expert throughout the study period
Constraints¶
- Designed for trainees with substantial general abdominal ultrasound experience (>200 examinations) but limited IUS exposure (<20 examinations)
Target Learners¶
- Gastroenterology trainees with prior abdominal ultrasound experience
Learning Goals¶
- Intestinal ultrasound competency for IBD assessment covering basic and advanced parameters
Claims¶
- Basic Ius Parameters High Baseline Agreement Modest Gains [+M]
- Advanced Ius Findings Steeper Learning Curves [+M]
- Bowel wall stratification is the most challenging basic IUS parameter, with minimal improvement (κ = 0.717 to κ = 0.736) and primary competence achieved by only 37.5% of trainees [+W]
- CUSUM analysis shows uniformly high apparent competency achievement (75% of trainees reaching binary detection competency within 48.5–61.6 examinations), contrasting with kappa-based variation of 12.5–62.5% [+W]
- No individual IUS parameter improvement achieved statistical significance after FDR correction, likely due to small sample size, ceiling effects, and low prevalence of rare findings [~W]
- Small bowel dilation detection exhibits the steepest learning trajectory among IUS parameters, improving from κ = 0.674 to κ = 0.921 (36.6% relative improvement) [+W]
- Sustained primary competence (κ ≥ 0.8) was achieved by 37.5–62.5% of trainees for basic parameters within 99 examinations, with pathologic segment identification, BWT, and qualitative vascularization each reaching 62.5% [+W]
- Between-trainee variance in learning patterns varies by parameter complexity, with subjective evaluations showing high inter-operator variability (mesenteric hypertrophy ICC = 0.479) and small bowel dilation showing minimal clustering (ICC = 0.038) [+W]
Related Designs¶
Examples¶
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Key Sources¶
- Bezzio Cristina, Bertin Luisa, Saibeni Simone, Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe, Furfaro Federica, Maconi Giovanni, Terracciano Fulvia, Mazzotta Elena, Calabrese Emma, Castiglione Fabiana, Orlando Ambrogio, Privitera Giuseppe, Massironi Sara, Zorzi Francesca, Pirola Lorena, Danese Silvio, Rispo Antonio, Caprioli Flavio, Fraquelli Mirella, Pitoni Demis, Dal Buono Arianna, Testa Anna, Fantini Massimo Claudio, Armuzzi Alessandro, Allocca Mariangela. (2025). Learning curve in intestinal ultrasound: advancing from basic skills to advanced competencies–insights from the IUS IG-IBD Master program. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaf223
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
design |
id |
ig-ibd-master-program-ius-training-curriculum |
title |
IG-IBD Master program three-phase competency-based IUS training curriculum |
description |
A standardized three-phase competency-based training curriculum implemented across eight Italian tertiary IBD centers. |
status |
review |
generated |
by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-04 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — bezzio-cristina-2025 |
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