Table 2.

Median scores obtained by the operators for each single item of the scale and in the six areas of expertise

	Students’ score	Senior resident’s score	p
Overall	4.0 [3.3–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	< 0.0001
Areas of expertise
Indication	4.5 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0052
Systematic LUS examination	4.0 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0013
Technical skills	4.0 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	< 0.0001
Findings	4.0 [3.0–4.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	< 0.0001
Documentation	4.0 [3.3–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0293
Conclusion	4.0 [3.5–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0033
Items
Evaluates indications for LUS	4.0 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0253
Suggests focused questions	5.0 [3.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0833
Performs systematic LUS	4.0 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0253
Performs LUS on focused questions	4.0 [3.0–4.8]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0186
Correct patient placement	4.0 [4.0–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0274
Correct of choice transducer	5.0 [4.3–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0854
Correct depth	4.0 [4.0–4.5]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0164
Correct gain	4.0 [4.0–4.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0102
Correct handling	3.5 [3.0–4.0]	5.0 [4.5–5.0]	0.0083
Correct assessment of pleura	4.0 [3.3.4.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0118
Correct assessment of B lines	4.0 [3.0–4.0]	5.0 [4.3–5.0]	0.0556
Correct assessment of consolidations	3.5 [3.0–4.3]	5.0 [4.5–5.0]	0.0416
Correct assessment of pleural effusion	3.0 [3.0–4.0]	5.0 [4.8–5.0]	0.0137
Thoracentesis safe	4.0 [3.5–4.5]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0178
Documents findings in patients’ charts	4.0 [3.3–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0293
Able to make diagnosis based on LUS	4.5 [3.3–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0487
Able to integrate LUS	4.0 [3.8–5.0]	5.0 [5.0–5.0]	0.0287

Differences between resident’s and students’ results were always statistically significant except for the items “suggests focused questions”, “correct choice of the transducer”, and “correct assessment of B lines”