Christopher K Schott1, Charles M LoPresti2, Jeremy S Boyd3, Megan Core4, Elizabeth K Haro5, Michael J Mader5, Sergio Pascual6, Erin P Finley5, Brian P Lucas7, Angel Colon-Molero8, Marcos I Restrepo5, Jacqueline Pugh5, Nilam J Soni5. 1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Veterans Affairs of Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, Pa; Department of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pa. Electronic address: christopher.schott@va.gov. 2. Medicine Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ohio; Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio. 3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville; Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine Service, Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fla; Department of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando. 5. Medicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio; Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Texas. 6. Department of Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, Texas. 7. Medicine Service, White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vt; Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH. 8. VHA Specialty Care Service, Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO), Washington, DC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use continues to increase in many specialties, but lack of POCUS training is a known barrier among practicing physicians. Many physicians are obtaining POCUS training through postgraduate courses, but the impact of these courses on skill retention and frequency of POCUS use post-course is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the change in POCUS knowledge, skills, and frequency of use after 6-9 months of participating in a brief training course. METHODS: Course participants' POCUS knowledge and hands-on technical skills were tested pre-course using an online, 30-question knowledge test and a directly observed skills test, respectively. The same knowledge and skills tests were repeated immediately post-course and after 6-9 months using remote tele-ultrasound software. Course participants completed a survey on their POCUS use pre-course and after 6-9 months post-course. RESULTS: There were 127 providers who completed the POCUS training course from October 2016 to November 2017. Knowledge test scores increased from a median of 60% to 90% immediately post-course followed by a slight decrease to 87% after 8 months post-course. Median skills test scores for 4 common POCUS applications (heart, lung, abdomen, vascular access) increased 36-74 points from pre-course to immediately post-course with a 2-7-point decrease after 8 months. Providers reported more frequent POCUS use post-course, which suggests application of their POCUS knowledge and skills in clinical practice. More frequent use of cardiac POCUS applications was associated with significantly greater retention of cardiac skills at 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physicians can retain POCUS knowledge and hands-on skills 8 months after participating in a 2.5-day POCUS training course, regardless of frequency of POCUS use post-course. Published by Elsevier Inc.
BACKGROUND: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use continues to increase in many specialties, but lack of POCUS training is a known barrier among practicing physicians. Many physicians are obtaining POCUS training through postgraduate courses, but the impact of these courses on skill retention and frequency of POCUS use post-course is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the change in POCUS knowledge, skills, and frequency of use after 6-9 months of participating in a brief training course. METHODS: Course participants' POCUS knowledge and hands-on technical skills were tested pre-course using an online, 30-question knowledge test and a directly observed skills test, respectively. The same knowledge and skills tests were repeated immediately post-course and after 6-9 months using remote tele-ultrasound software. Course participants completed a survey on their POCUS use pre-course and after 6-9 months post-course. RESULTS: There were 127 providers who completed the POCUS training course from October 2016 to November 2017. Knowledge test scores increased from a median of 60% to 90% immediately post-course followed by a slight decrease to 87% after 8 months post-course. Median skills test scores for 4 common POCUS applications (heart, lung, abdomen, vascular access) increased 36-74 points from pre-course to immediately post-course with a 2-7-point decrease after 8 months. Providers reported more frequent POCUS use post-course, which suggests application of their POCUS knowledge and skills in clinical practice. More frequent use of cardiac POCUS applications was associated with significantly greater retention of cardiac skills at 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physicians can retain POCUS knowledge and hands-on skills 8 months after participating in a 2.5-day POCUS training course, regardless of frequency of POCUS use post-course. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Entities:
Keywords:
Education; Point of care; Retention; Ultrasound
Authors: Nilam J Soni; Robert Nathanson; Mark Andreae; Rahul Khosla; Karthik Vadamalai; Karthik Kode; Jeremy S Boyd; Charles M LoPresti; Dana Resop; Zahir Basrai; Jason Williams; Brian Bales; Harald Sauthoff; Erin Wetherbee; Elizabeth K Haro; Natalie Smith; Michael J Mader; Jacqueline Pugh; Erin P Finley; Christopher K Schott Journal: Ultrasound J Date: 2022-05-12
Authors: Ghislaine Douflé; Ricardo Teijeiro-Paradis; Diana Morales-Castro; Martin Urner; Alberto Goffi; Laura Dragoi; Filio Billia Journal: CASE (Phila) Date: 2022-08-15