To make a survey of the job tasks of China's ultrasound residents, in order to provide a basis for improving the standardized training program for ultrasound residents and the design of final examination.

We first established a job task list for ultrasound residents to reflect their clinical work, scientific research training, and ability training needed in their actual work. A total of 1369 residents from 11 provinces who have completed the standardized residential ultrasound training program were enrolled in the study. A stratified sampling investigation was conducted according to the proportion of residents by province. The frequency and importance of each job task in the current work and during the residence training period were investigated, and the comprehensive score of each task was calculated. Kappa consistency test was used to evaluate the consistency between the task frequency in the current work and during the training period.

The task list of ultrasound residents included 18 job tasks, of which the top five with the highest comprehensive score were: abdominal and pleural effusion ultrasound, standardized writing of ultrasound report, superficial organ ultrasound, peripheral blood vessel ultrasound, and obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound. The frequency of each job task in the current work and during the residence training period had a moderate consistency (Kappa=0.477~0.580, P＜0.001). The top three tasks with the largest difference were emergency ultrasound (3.88 vs 3.34), obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound (4.00 vs 3.69), and peripheral vascular ultrasound (4.08 vs 3.87), which were performed more frequently in the current work than in the training period. The frequency consistency of job task assisting interventional ultrasound between actual work and residential training was poor (Kappa=0.200, P＜0.001), and the current frequency was significantly lower than that during residential training (1.67 vs 2.87).

There is a moderate consistency for the frequency of most job tasks between current work and the training period. The assessment of job tasks could provide a basis for formulating the final examination of residency training program. It is suggested that the training for emergency ultrasound, obstetrics and gynecology ultrasound, and peripheral vascular ultrasound should be enhanced during residency training period, and the proportion of interventional ultrasound be reduced in the final examination.