Development and Preliminary Evaluation of the Ultrasound Knowledge and Perceptions Questionnaire (UKPQ) Among Health Professions Students.

PURPOSE: Medical ultrasound has become an essential component of modern healthcare due to its wide range of clinical applications, accessibility, and non-ionizing nature. As its role in diagnosis and patient management continues to expand, ultrasound education has become increasingly important in health professions curricula. This study aimed to develop the Ultrasound Knowledge and Perceptions Questionnaire (UKPQ) and to conduct a preliminary assessment of its measurement properties among health professions students.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 213 health professions students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using the newly developed UKPQ, which assessed demographic characteristics, ultrasound knowledge (physics, instrumentation and imaging, and safety), and perceptions of ultrasound education. Preliminary evaluation of the questionnaire included assessment of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, and multivariable binary logistic regression were used for data analysis, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

The overall mean knowledge score was 20.2 ± 3.5. Students with prior intensive ultrasound education achieved significantly higher scores than those without (23.7 ± 1.2 vs 19.6 ± 3.4). The main knowledge gaps were identified in reflection and refraction, Doppler concepts, and the ALARA principle. Exposure to ultrasound topics within the curriculum (aOR=3.52, 95% CI: 1.64-7.53; p=0.001) and attendance at ultrasound courses (aOR=4.07, 95% CI: 1.28-12.90; p=0.017) were independently associated with higher knowledge. Most Participants (74.0%) expressed interest in receiving additional ultrasound education.

CONCLUSION

The UKPQ is a newly developed, preliminarily evaluated questionnaire for assessing ultrasound knowledge and perceptions among health professions students. However, comprehensive psychometric validation has not yet been performed. Further studies are needed to establish its validity and reliability across diverse student populations and educational settings.