Medical imaging training with eye movement modeling examples: A randomized controlled study

Darici, Dogus; Masthoff, Max; Rischen, Robert; Schmitz, Martina; Ohlenburg, Hendrik; Missler, Markus

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether ultrasound training in which the expert’s eye movements aresuperimposed to the underlying ultrasound video (eye movement modeling examples; EMMEs)leads to better learner outcomes than traditional eye movement-free instructions.Materials and methods:106 undergraduate medical students were randomized in two groups; 51students in the EMME group watched 5-min ultrasound examination videos combined with theeye movements of an expert performing the task. The identical videos without the eye movementswere shown to 55 students in the control group. Performance and behavioral parameters werecompared prepost interventional using ANOVAs. Additionally, cognitive load, and prior knowledgein anatomy were surveyed.Results:After training, the EMME group identified more sonoanatomical structures correctly, andcompleted the tasks faster than the control group. This effect was partly mediated by a reductionof extraneous cognitive load. Participants with greater prior anatomical knowledge benefited themost from the EMME training.Conclusion:Displaying experts’eye movements in medical imaging training appears to be aneffective way to foster medical interpretation skills of undergraduate medical students. One under-lying mechanism might be that practicing with eye movements reduces cognitive load and helpslearners activate their prior knowledge.