X Bobbia1, M Abou-Badra2, N Hansel3, P Pes4, T Petrovic5, P G Claret6, J Y Lefrant7, J E de La Coussaye8. 1. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: xavier.bobbia@gmail.com. 2. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: mathieu.aboubadra@gmail.com. 3. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: nadine_hansel@hotmail.com. 4. Samu-Smur urgence (PHU3), CHU de Nantes, 1, Quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex 01, France. Electronic address: ppes@club-internet.fr. 5. Samu-Smur, CHU Avicenne, 125, rue de Stalingrad, 93009 Bobigny cedex, France. Electronic address: tomi.petro.77@gmail.com. 6. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: pierre.geraud.claret@gmail.com. 7. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: jean.yves.lefrant@chu-nimes.fr. 8. Pôle anesthésie réanimation douleur urgence, CHU de Nîmes, place du Pr-Debré, 30029 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: jean.emmanuel.delacoussaye@chu-nimes.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Ensuring the availability of ultrasound devices is the initial step in implementing clinical ultrasound (CUS) in emergency services. In France in 2011, 52% of emergency departments (EDs) and only 9% of mobile intensive care stations (MICS) were equipped with ultrasound devices. The main goal of this study was to determine the movement of these rates since 2011. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentre study in the form of a questionnaire. To estimate the numbers of EDs and MICS equipped with at least one ultrasound system with a confidence level of 95% and margin of error of 5%, 170 responding EDs and 145 MICS were required. Each service was solicited three times by secure online questionnaire and then by phone. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-eight (84%) services responded to the questionnaire: 179 (86%) EDs and 149 (82%) MICS. At least one ultrasound machine was available in 127 (71%, 95% CI [64; 78]) EDs vs. 52% in 2011 (P<0.01). 42 (28%, 95% CI [21; 35]) MICS were equipped vs. 9% in 2011 (P<0.01). In 97 (76%) EDs and 24 (55%) MICS, less than a half of physicians were trained. CUS was used at least three times a day in 52 (41%) EDs and in 8 (19%) MICS. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates improved access to ultrasound devices in French EDs and MICS. Almost three-quarters of EDs and nearly one-third of MICS are now equipped with at least one ultrasound device. However, the rate of physicians trained per service remains insufficient.
OBJECTIVE: Ensuring the availability of ultrasound devices is the initial step in implementing clinical ultrasound (CUS) in emergency services. In France in 2011, 52% of emergency departments (EDs) and only 9% of mobile intensive care stations (MICS) were equipped with ultrasound devices. The main goal of this study was to determine the movement of these rates since 2011. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentre study in the form of a questionnaire. To estimate the numbers of EDs and MICS equipped with at least one ultrasound system with a confidence level of 95% and margin of error of 5%, 170 responding EDs and 145 MICS were required. Each service was solicited three times by secure online questionnaire and then by phone. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-eight (84%) services responded to the questionnaire: 179 (86%) EDs and 149 (82%) MICS. At least one ultrasound machine was available in 127 (71%, 95% CI [64; 78]) EDs vs. 52% in 2011 (P<0.01). 42 (28%, 95% CI [21; 35]) MICS were equipped vs. 9% in 2011 (P<0.01). In 97 (76%) EDs and 24 (55%) MICS, less than a half of physicians were trained. CUS was used at least three times a day in 52 (41%) EDs and in 8 (19%) MICS. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates improved access to ultrasound devices in French EDs and MICS. Almost three-quarters of EDs and nearly one-third of MICS are now equipped with at least one ultrasound device. However, the rate of physicians trained per service remains insufficient.