The Use of 3-D Models of Echocardiographic Imaging Planes for Teaching Echocardiography Techniques for Use in Dogs and Cats

Abstract

Echocardiography is an invaluable technique for the diagnosis of heart disease. The aim of this study was to develop 3-D models of healthy and diseased hearts of dogs and cats, and to evaluate their effectiveness in assisting veterinary undergraduates to understand echocardiographic imaging planes. Resin models depicting the main echocardiographic imaging planes of normal hearts were created, as well as example hearts with features of mitral degeneration in dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. After a theoretical class, fourth-year students were randomly assigned to one of two groups (model group or control group). The model group had access to the 3-D models, along with self-explanatory text about echocardiographic imaging planes; the control group only had access to the self-explanatory text. Both groups were allowed 2 weeks to study their allocated resources, after which the students undertook an assessment to evaluate their learning and completed a questionnaire about their experiences and satisfaction with the respective teaching method. A total of 39 students participated in the study, 19 in the model group and 20 in the control group. Students assigned to the model group spent more time studying (p = 0.0027). The proportion of students who achieved a satisfactory grade in the assessment was 89.5% in the model group and 60% in the control group (p = 0.0449). The 3-D models facilitated, and significantly improved, the identification of cardiac structures and disease-associated abnormalities, and the learning process in general. Additionally, the models seemed to provide greater student motivation for studying echocardiography.