Current Use, Perceived Barriers, and Learning Preference of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the Emergency Medicine in Qatar – A Mixed Design

Abstract

Introduction: Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has been a part of emergency medicine (EM) training for almost two decades. EM training program has a very broad and rigorous POCUS curricula which, in several cases, does not translate to routine application in clinical settings. This study therefore sought to compare the indications, utilization, barriers, and preferred POCUS educational method in a large Middle Eastern academic EM. Methodology: A validated questionnaire was emailed to 50 EM faculties between April and May 2019. Volunteer faculty members partook in a semi-structured interview to better understand the indications, current use, barriers, and preferred learning method. Responses were anonymous, and data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: This was a mixed design study. 30/50 (60%) of faculty responded to the survey, with a mean age of 39.2 years and a mean number of years in practice, 13.1. 55% (n=28) completed POCUS training in less than five years, while 45% completed more than five years ago and 5% never completed it. Forty percent of EM physicians were trained in Africa, while 55% were qualified in Asia and 5% completed their training in Europe. The indications and frequently performed procedures were consistent with the previous research. The common barrier reported was lack of time, lack of credentialing, lack of quality assurance, and national guidelines. The majority of the faculty preferred a blended learning approach for POCUS. Conclusion: POCUS perceived barriers to its full use include time constraints, lack of national guidelines, and credentialing (awarding POCUS qualifications) of the faculty. Blended learning appears to be the preferred approach towards acquiring the knowledge and skills of POCUS.

Development and Remodeling of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Education for Emergency Medicine Residents in Resource Limited Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Hence, based on a questionnaire study, we estimate that there were around eighteen residents who would meet our inclusion criteria. Assuming a participation rate of 60% [ 13 ], we expected to include at least eleven residents in this study. Therefore, the study group was comprised of first-year emergency medicine residents who attended the first POCUS curriculum developed by our faculty during 2019–2021 academic year and who had responded to our survey questionnaire.…”

Design and implementation of a basic and global point of care ultrasound (POCUS) certification curriculum for emergency medicine faculty

“…For practicing clinicians, learning a new skill can be challenging. Lack of time, equipment and training, are the most commonly cited barriers to using POCUS in practice [ 10 – 12 ]. Objections by the Department of Radiology and lack of a formal credentialing process can also pose significant challenges [ 13 ].…”

Impact of Insurance Benefits and Education on Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use in a Single Emergency Department: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

“…Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful tool that helps clinicians make decisions to properly evaluate and treat patients in the emergency department (ED) [1][2][3][4]. Advances in ultrasound devices, such as portable machines, have improved the accessibility of ultrasound [5,6], and POCUS has become an essential technique for emergency physicians (EPs) for bedside examination of patients [7][8][9].…”