OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound image interpretation and education relies on obtaining a high-quality ultrasound image; however, no literature exists to date attempting to define a high-quality ultrasound image. The purpose of this study was to design and perform a pilot reliability study of the Brightness Mode Quality Ultrasound Imaging Examination Technique (B-QUIET) method for ultrasound quality image assessment. METHODS: A single sonologist performed a Trinity hypotensive ultrasound protocol on 3 participants of varying body types. Each participant's ultrasound examination was repeated in 4 locations; static clinic location, mobile ambulance, airplane, and helicopter. Images were reviewed by a sonographer, radiologist, and emergency medicine physician using the B-QUIET method and underwent statistical analysis using generalizability theory for reliability of the assessments using the tool. RESULTS: The B-QUIET method showed high reliability of most subscale items. Approximately two-thirds of the reviewed images had complete inter-rater reliability on 90% of the items. There was relatively low inter-rater reliability for the Identification/ Orientation subscale items. The inter-rater reliability κ value was calculated as 0.676 overall for the method. CONCLUSIONS: The need for a standardized method to evaluate the quality of an ultrasound image is well documented. The B-QUIET method represents the first attempt to quantify the sonographer component of ultrasound images. Further reliability and validation studies of this method will be needed; however, it represents a tool for standardized ultrasound interpretation, ultrasound training, and institutional quality assessment.
OBJECTIVES: Ultrasound image interpretation and education relies on obtaining a high-quality ultrasound image; however, no literature exists to date attempting to define a high-quality ultrasound image. The purpose of this study was to design and perform a pilot reliability study of the Brightness Mode Quality Ultrasound Imaging Examination Technique (B-QUIET) method for ultrasound quality image assessment. METHODS: A single sonologist performed a Trinity hypotensive ultrasound protocol on 3 participants of varying body types. Each participant's ultrasound examination was repeated in 4 locations; static clinic location, mobile ambulance, airplane, and helicopter. Images were reviewed by a sonographer, radiologist, and emergency medicine physician using the B-QUIET method and underwent statistical analysis using generalizability theory for reliability of the assessments using the tool. RESULTS: The B-QUIET method showed high reliability of most subscale items. Approximately two-thirds of the reviewed images had complete inter-rater reliability on 90% of the items. There was relatively low inter-rater reliability for the Identification/ Orientation subscale items. The inter-rater reliability κ value was calculated as 0.676 overall for the method. CONCLUSIONS: The need for a standardized method to evaluate the quality of an ultrasound image is well documented. The B-QUIET method represents the first attempt to quantify the sonographer component of ultrasound images. Further reliability and validation studies of this method will be needed; however, it represents a tool for standardized ultrasound interpretation, ultrasound training, and institutional quality assessment.
Authors: Ross Prager; Paul Pageau; Timothy Hodges; Christina Yan; Michael Woo; Marie-Joe Nemnom; Scott Millington; Matthew Holden; Raphael St-Gelais; Warren J Cheung Journal: AEM Educ Train Date: 2022-04-01
Authors: Brian P Lucas; Antonietta D'Addio; Jennifer Clark; Clay Block; Harold Manning; Brian Remillard; J C Leiter Journal: J Clin Ultrasound Date: 2017-05-08 Impact factor: 0.910
Authors: Marcia A Bockbrader; Ryan D Thompson; David P Way; Sam C Colachis; Imran J Siddiqui; Jennifer Luz; Joanne Borg-Stein; Kevin OʼConnor; Minna J Kohler; David P Bahner Journal: Am J Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 2.159
Authors: Jessica Buesing; Yingjie Weng; John Kugler; Libo Wang; Ondrej Blaha; Jason Hom; Neera Ahuja; Andre Kumar Journal: J Grad Med Educ Date: 2021-12-29