Evaluation of Neck Ultrasound and Neck Dissection Skills Training Course

Background: Neck ultrasound (US) and neck dissection are skills of ear nose throat (ENT) specialists would master in order to diagnose and treat disorders in the head and neck region. Identifying areas that need improvement and updating the training programs accordingly will contribute to ENT specialists providing safer and more effective care to their patients.

Methods: Afterward, practical neck US training was performed and then selective neck dissections were performed on a fresh frozen cadaver. In both applications, the previously prepared neck US skill assessment scale and neck dissection surgical skill scale were used to assess the skills. Feedback was given to the students according to the evaluation results. At the end of the course, the general course evaluation was made with the SETh short course evaluation scale.

Results: Of the 14 specialists participated (6 were female and 8 were male) with an age range of 31-38 (average 33.64) participated in the BB and TCO 2024-2025 period training. The shortest experience time was a 1-year specialist and the longest was a 6-year specialist (average: 3.03). The average scores obtained from the students’ performance for each process step were calculated and presented comparatively in the tables.

Conclusion: These results can be used in developing the training program in future course planning. This research will also be an example for the development of skill laboratory applications in ENT and other branches.

Cite this article as: Kara CO, Hafız AM, Gökcan MK, Başak HS, Hafız G. Evaluation of neck ultrasound and neck dissection skills training course. Balkan ORL-HNS 2025;2(2):54-58.