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Official Proceedings - AIUM

Official Proceedings - AIUM

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American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine <strong>Proceedings</strong> J Ultrasound Med 32(suppl):S1–S134, 20131443469 Role of Spatial Ability as a Possible Ability Determinant inSkill Acquisition for Sonographic ScanningDouglas Clem, 1 * Brad Curs, 2 Joe Donaldson, 2 SharletteAnderson, 1 Moses Hdeib 1 1 Cardiopulmomnary and DiagnosticSciences, 2 Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis,University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri USAObjectives—Spatial ability refers to an individual’s capacity tovisualize and mentally manipulate 3D objects. Since sonographers manuallymanipulate 2D and 3D sonographic images to generate renderingsof anatomic structures, it can be assumed that spatial ability is an abilitydeterminant for understanding and producing these medical images. UsingAckerman’s theory of ability determinants of skilled performance as aconceptual framework, this study explored the relationship of spatial abilityand learning sonographic scanning.Methods—Beginning sonography students from 3 differenttypes of educational institutions were administered a spatial abilities testprior to their initial scanning lab coursework. The students’ spatial testscores were compared with their scanning competency performance scoresafter the first scanning competency test and then to the overall average ofthe competency scores for the 2 semesters. The spatial ability test wasagain administered after the 2-semester learning period to see if the students’spatial ability had increased. Additionally, the role of spatial abilityand student retention was explored.Results—A significant relationship between the students’ spatialability test scores and their scanning performance scores was foundafter the first scanning competency (r = 9.46; P

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