A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel
Introduction: Point-of care-ultrasound (POCUS) has become ubiquitous in emergency medicine practice for the management of emergent pathophysiology. There is growing interest in its potential as a diagnostic tool in the prehospital setting. Few studies have examined the feasibility or efficacy of cur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p72d383 |
| _version_ | 1811172960431505408 |
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| author | Laurel O’Connor Matthew Beth-Urhoy Stephen Allegra Andrew Dowd Alexandra Nordberg Timothy Boardman Timothy Gleeson Robert Lindsay |
| author_facet | Laurel O’Connor Matthew Beth-Urhoy Stephen Allegra Andrew Dowd Alexandra Nordberg Timothy Boardman Timothy Gleeson Robert Lindsay |
| author_sort | Laurel O’Connor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Point-of care-ultrasound (POCUS) has become ubiquitous in emergency medicine practice for the management of emergent pathophysiology. There is growing interest in its potential as a diagnostic tool in the prehospital setting. Few studies have examined the feasibility or efficacy of curricula targeted at teaching POCUS to prehospital personnel. Our objective in this study was to investigate a curriculum for the extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (eFAST) exam in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) crews. Methods: This was a pre/post intervention study of HEMS personnel at a tertiary care center. Subjects were administered a pre-intervention written test and an observed structured clinical evaluation (OSCE). Subsequently, they participated in an educational intervention intended to impart proficiency in performing the eFAST. Subjects underwent post-intervention written exams and OSCEs. We analyzed pre- and post-intervention test performance along with the number and quality of practice ultrasound examinations achieved. Results: Sixteen subjects were enrolled (62.5% male, mean age 44.1). After undergoing the intervention, the mean written test score increased 22.1% (t=3.41; P <0.001) and the mean OSCE score increased by 64.5% (t=6.87, P <0.001). All subjects met “passing” criteria for the written test and OSCE on their post-intervention attempt. Subjects accomplished a mean of 21.1 clinically interpretable eFAST sonographs. Most subjects reported the curriculum was useful (90.1%) and that they would incorporate this skill into clinical practice (90.1%). Conclusion: A targeted POCUS curriculum was feasible and effective in establishing clinical proficiency in HEMS crews for performing and interpreting the eFAST exam. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:40:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbbd023c41374a8baaa41b927040024d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:40:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbbd023c41374a8baaa41b927040024d2023-02-03T16:08:56ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-90182023-01-0124110.5811/westjem.2022.12.57599wjem-24-30A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care PersonnelLaurel O’Connor0Matthew Beth-Urhoy1Stephen Allegra2Andrew Dowd3Alexandra Nordberg4Timothy Boardman5Timothy Gleeson6Robert Lindsay7University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Radiology, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Worcester, MassachusettsIntroduction: Point-of care-ultrasound (POCUS) has become ubiquitous in emergency medicine practice for the management of emergent pathophysiology. There is growing interest in its potential as a diagnostic tool in the prehospital setting. Few studies have examined the feasibility or efficacy of curricula targeted at teaching POCUS to prehospital personnel. Our objective in this study was to investigate a curriculum for the extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (eFAST) exam in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) crews. Methods: This was a pre/post intervention study of HEMS personnel at a tertiary care center. Subjects were administered a pre-intervention written test and an observed structured clinical evaluation (OSCE). Subsequently, they participated in an educational intervention intended to impart proficiency in performing the eFAST. Subjects underwent post-intervention written exams and OSCEs. We analyzed pre- and post-intervention test performance along with the number and quality of practice ultrasound examinations achieved. Results: Sixteen subjects were enrolled (62.5% male, mean age 44.1). After undergoing the intervention, the mean written test score increased 22.1% (t=3.41; P <0.001) and the mean OSCE score increased by 64.5% (t=6.87, P <0.001). All subjects met “passing” criteria for the written test and OSCE on their post-intervention attempt. Subjects accomplished a mean of 21.1 clinically interpretable eFAST sonographs. Most subjects reported the curriculum was useful (90.1%) and that they would incorporate this skill into clinical practice (90.1%). Conclusion: A targeted POCUS curriculum was feasible and effective in establishing clinical proficiency in HEMS crews for performing and interpreting the eFAST exam.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p72d383 |
| spellingShingle | Laurel O’Connor Matthew Beth-Urhoy Stephen Allegra Andrew Dowd Alexandra Nordberg Timothy Boardman Timothy Gleeson Robert Lindsay A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel |
| title_full | A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel |
| title_short | A Novel Point-of-care Ultrasound Curriculum for Air Critical Care Personnel |
| title_sort | novel point of care ultrasound curriculum for air critical care personnel |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4p72d383 |
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