International Journal of Educational Research and Reviews

International Journal of Education Research and Reviews ISSN 2329-9843 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Educational problems associated with abdominal ultrasonography for pediatricians in Japan

Ko Ichihashi^1,2* and Mariko Momoi²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Ibaraki Prefectural Central Hospital, 6528 Koibuchi Kasama, Ibaraki, 309-1793 Japan.

²Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, 3311- 1 Minamikawachi Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498 Japan.

Accepted 12 November, 2018

Abstract

In this study, we examined how pediatricians use abdominal ultrasonography and the educational problems associated with this technique for pediatricians in Japan. A simple questionnaire was distributed at the 2004 prefectural meetings of the Ibaraki and Tochigi chapters of the Japan Pediatric Society. Of the pediatricians who replied to the questionnaire, 38, 47 and 14% reported using abdominal ultrasonography often, sometimes, and never, respectively. Forty-two percent of those who use abdominal ultrasonography perform the procedure themselves; the rates were high among respondents in their thirties and forties, and the rates were highest in private practice and lowest in university hospitals and children’s hospitals. Intussusception, fatty liver, and hydronephrosis can be diagnosed by the pediatricians themselves, while diagnoses of appendicitis and diseases of the reproductive system are difficult. Fifty- eight percent of the pediatricians who do not perform abdominal ultrasonography themselves had no chance to learn how to use the technique. The pediatricians wish to learn abdominal ultrasound from publications, seminars, and guidance by specialists. New trials of publications and seminars are currently ongoing and the development of a system to facilitate learning from specialists is needed.