Training pediatric residents in point-of-care ultrasound: An assessment of the needs and barriers to acquire the skill

Abstract Background Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a noninvasive bedside tool with many pediatric applications but is not currently a formal part of pediatric training and practice. Formal surveys of general pediatricians regarding POCUS training are lacking. We aimed to quantify the baseline ultrasound experience and training needs of general pediatricians and pediatric residents across different practice settings. Methods In 2020, we sent an online survey to 485 current faculty, residents, and graduates from an urban pediatric academic medical center in Northern California. Pediatric subspecialists were excluded. Survey questions about baseline experience, comfort, and perceived usefulness of 20 common POCUS applications were developed by two POCUS experts using existing literature. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare residents versus attendings and to compare attendings practicing in inpatient versus outpatient versus mixed settings. Results Response rate was 20% (98/485). Compared to attendings (n = 73), residents (n = 25) endorsed more exposure to POCUS in medical school (32% vs 5%, p = 0.003) and residency (12% vs 5%, p = 0.003). Respondents endorsed low comfort with POCUS (mean 1.3 out of 5 on Likert scale). Of 20 procedural and diagnostic applications, respondents identified abscess drainage, bladder catheterization, soft tissue, neck, advanced abdominal, and constipation as most useful. Overall, 50% of pediatricians (and 70% of pediatric residents) responded that there were opportunities to use POCUS multiple times a week or more in their clinical practice. Conclusions There is an unmet demand for POCUS training among general pediatricians and trainees in our study. Although the majority of respondents were not POCUS users, our results could guide future efforts to study the role of POCUS in general pediatrics and develop pediatric curricula.

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Evaluating a longitudinal point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum for pediatric residents

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-021-02488-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julia Aogaichi Brant ◽

Jonathan Orsborn ◽

Ryan Good ◽

Emily Greenwald ◽

Megan Mickley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissues ◽

Imaging Modality ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Ease Of Use ◽

Comfort Level ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Good Tolerability ◽

Pediatric Residents ◽

Pediatric Residency ◽

Hands On

Abstract Background POCUS is a growing field in medical education, and an imaging modality ideal for children given the lack of ionizing radiation, ease of use, and good tolerability. A 2019 literature review revealed that no US pediatric residency programs integrated obligatory POCUS curricula. Our objective was to provide a formalized POCUS curriculum over multiple years, and to retrospectively assess improvement in resident skills and comfort. Methods During intern year, pediatric residents received didactics and hands-on scanning opportunities in basic POCUS applications. Their evaluation tools included pre- and post-surveys and tests, and a final performance exam. In the second and third years of residency, all participants were required to complete 8 hours per year of POCUS content review and additional hands-on training. An optional third-year curriculum was offered to interested residents as career-focused education elective time. Results Our curriculum introduced POCUS topics such as basic and advanced cardiac, lung, skin/soft tissues and procedural based ultrasound to all pediatric residents. Among first-year residents, application-specific results showed POCUS comfort level improved by 61–90%. Completed evaluations demonstrated improvement in their ability to recognize and interpret POCUS images. Second- and third-year residents reported educational effectiveness that was rated 3.9 on a 4-point Likert scale. Four third-year residents took part in the optional POCUS elective, and all reported a change in their practice with increased POCUS incorporation. Conclusions Our longitudinal pediatric residency POCUS curriculum is feasible to integrate into residency training and exhibits early success.

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Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education for Pediatric Residents in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

MedEdPORTAL ◽

10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10683 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ryan Good ◽

Jonathan Orsborn ◽

Timothy Stidham

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Pediatric Intensive Care ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Ultrasound Education ◽

Pediatric Residents

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The Unmet Demand for Point-of-Care Ultrasound Among General Pediatricians: A Needs Assessment

10.21203/rs.3.rs-712556/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anelah McGinness ◽

Margaret Lin-Martore ◽

Newton Addo ◽

Ashkon Shaahinar

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Medical Center ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Pediatric Residents ◽

Unmet Demand ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Diagnostic Applications

Abstract Background: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a noninvasive bedside tool with many pediatric applications but is not currently a formal part of pediatric training and practice. Formal needs assessments of general pediatricians regarding POCUS training are lacking. We aimed to quantify the baseline ultrasound experience and training needs of general pediatricians and pediatric residents across different practice settings.Methods: In 2020, we sent an online survey to 485 current faculty, residents, and graduates from an urban pediatric academic medical center in Northern California. Pediatric subspecialists were excluded. Survey questions about baseline experience, comfort, and perceived usefulness of 20 common POCUS applications were developed by two POCUS experts using existing literature. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare residents versus attendings and to compare attendings practicing in inpatient versus outpatient versus mixed settings. Results: Response rate was 20% (98/485). Compared to attendings (n=73), residents (n=25) endorsed more exposure to POCUS in medical school (32% vs 5%, p=0.003) and residency (12% vs 5%, p=0.003). Respondents endorsed low comfort with POCUS (mean 1.3 out of 5 on Likert scale). Of 20 procedural and diagnostic applications, respondents identified abscess drainage, bladder catheterization, soft tissue, neck, advanced abdominal, and constipation as most useful. Overall, 50% of pediatricians (and 70% of pediatric residents) responded that there were opportunities to use POCUS multiple times a week or more in their clinical practice. Conclusions: There is an unmet demand for POCUS training among general pediatricians and trainees in our study. Our results could guide design of ultrasound curricula for general pediatricians.

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Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Skull Fractures in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2012-3921d ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 131 (6) ◽

pp. X22-X22

Keyword(s):

Point Of Care ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Skull Fractures ◽

Fractures In Children

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Case Report: When all claims that it is necrotizing fasciitis but Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) proves the opposite!

POCUS Journal ◽

10.24908/pocus.v3i1.13310 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 13-14

Author(s):

Hadiel Kaiyasah, MD, MRCS (Glasgow), ABHS-GS ◽

Maryam Al Ali, MBBS

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Critical Care ◽

Case Report ◽

Soft Tissue ◽

Necrotizing Fasciitis ◽

Soft Tissue Infection ◽

Critical Care Unit ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Soft Tissue Infections

Soft tissue ultrasound (ST-USS) has been shown to be of utmost importance in assessing patients with soft tissue infections in the emergency department or critical care unit. It aids in guiding the management of soft tissue infection based on the sonographic findings.

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Pilot Project: Does formal bedside training of medical students with a FAST exam increase their knowledge and comfort level with ultrasound use in a community family medicine practice setting?

POCUS Journal ◽

10.24908/pocus.v2i2.13279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 15-17

Author(s):

Rimi Sambi, MD ◽

Heather Sawula, MD ◽

Brent Wolfrom, MD ◽

Joseph Newbigging, MD

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Family Medicine ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Training Session ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Knowledge Retention ◽

Comfort Level ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Medical Undergraduate ◽

Fast Exam

As point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) becomes increasingly popular and a standard of care in many clinical settings, the interest for integration in medical undergraduate curriculum is also growing [1]. This project aims to assess whether formal bedside Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma (FAST) exam training of medical students increases their knowledge and comfort with the use of bedside ultrasound in a family medicine setting at Queen’s University. Third year medical students (n=18) were recruited to participate in a training session involving a 1-hour online video and 2-hour hands-on session. Knowledge based surveys were completed before and after the training. A survey was completed 4 months after the teaching session evaluating knowledge retention, comfort, and application of skills. Student knowledge of PoCUS and FAST increased and was maintained (pre-training 56%±20%, post-training 82%±10%, p<0.001). Self-evaluation of comfort performing a FAST examination (5-point Likert scale) similarly increased post-training session (pre-training 1.4±0.8, post-training 3.8±0.9, p<0.005), but decreased 4 months later (3±1.2, p<0.005). Students in this study were unanimously interested in ultrasound training and the methods used effectively increased theoretical knowledge and comfort with use. Students did not retain their comfort levels with FAST exam 4 months after the training session, nor did they have the opportunity to utilize the skills learned. Further evidence is required to identify the applicability of these results to undergraduate curriculum development.

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