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LETTERS: Usman Shaikh and Dan Earnshaw ... and maintain competency BMJ 2008; 336: 1146-d-1147-d [Full text]

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How do we define "spatial awareness" in trainee ultrasonographers?

Ima Moorthy, not applicable   (25 May 2008)

How do we define "spatial awareness" in trainee ultrasonographers? 25 May 2008
Ima Moorthy, consultant paediatric radiologist Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital,Brighton and Sussex NHS Trust , BN2 5BE, not applicable Send response to journal: Re: How do we define "spatial awareness" in trainee ultrasonographers?	Sir As someone who relies heavily on ultrasonography to make diagnoses, I read with much interest both the original article by Wise (1) and the responses (2). I do not believe that there is any formal mechanism available in any country to assess "spatial awareness" among trainee sonographers. Indeed, this term is often used very loosely to blame the trainee for the trainer's inability to train, teach or mentor. I must therefore ask that before we decline to train someone because of their purported lack of spatial awareness, we define this term clearly, and reflect on our own teaching methods. 1.Wise J.Everyone's a radiologist now.BMJ 2008;336:1041-3. (10 May) 2.Walton JM.Shift training from NHS Trusts to skills laboratories..BMJ 2008;336:1146 (24 May) Competing interests: None declared