Point-of-Care Ultrasound Training in Pediatric Residency: A National Needs Assessment

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) evolves into a standard tool for the care of children, pediatric residency programs need to develop POCUS training programs. Few POCUS training resources exist for pediatric residents, and little is known about POCUS training in pediatric residencies. We aim to describe pediatric residency leadership perspectives regarding the value of POCUS and to elucidate the current state of POCUS training in pediatric residency programs. METHODS A group of pediatric educators and POCUS experts developed a novel survey followed by cognitive interviews to establish response-process validity. The survey was administered electronically to pediatric residency associate program directors between December 2019 and April 2020. Program characteristics, including region, setting, and size, were used to perform poststratification for analyses. We performed comparative analyses using program and respondent characteristics. RESULTS We achieved a 30% (58 of 196) survey response rate. Although only a minority of respondents (26%) used POCUS in clinical practice, a majority (56%) indicated that all pediatric residents should be trained in POCUS. A majority of respondents also considered 8 of 10 POCUS applications important for pediatric residents. Only 37% of programs reported any POCUS training for residents, primarily informal bedside education. Most respondents (94%) cited a lack of qualified instructors as a barrier to POCUS training. CONCLUSIONS Most pediatric residency programs do not provide residents with POCUS training despite its perceived value and importance. Numerous POCUS applications are considered important for pediatric residents to learn. Future curricular and faculty development efforts should address the lack of qualified POCUS instructors.

A Longitudinal Evaluation of a Multimodal POCUS Curriculum in Pediatric Residents

“…This study was able to demonstrate that our novel POCUS curriculum led to knowledge acquisition and improved confidence in pediatric trainees. There is a clear demand for POCUS education of pediatric residents, from both the perspective of program leadership and trainees, who recognize the importance of this skill and who desire POCUS training 19 , 20 , 21 . We suggest that our novel curriculum combining QB and in-person learning could serve this demand.…”

“…In a separate survey, pediatrics residents overwhelmingly felt that POCUS training should be required during residency, yet only 15% of respondents had received such training 19 . A national survey of pediatric residency associate program directors showed that a majority of respondents felt that POCUS should be taught to their trainees 20 .…”

Consensus‐based ethical best practices for performing educational point‐of‐care ultrasonography in the emergency department

“…Ultrasound (US) training is required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for residents in EM, family medicine, and anesthesiology 3–5 . Many large specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery, have also advocated for integrated US curricula to improve resident competency 6–9 . When implementing US training at all levels of medical education, a variety of training methods are utilized, including hands‐on experiential learning.…”

A Shared Point of Care Ultrasound Curriculum for Graduate Medical Education

“…In repeated surveys about providing POCUS training, lack of local expertise and resources are almost universally cited barriers to beginning and/or sustaining a POCUS training program. [6][7][8][9][10] Utilizing national programs, such as the American College of Surgeons' Ultrasound Essentials for Surgeons Course or the American College of Chest Physicians' Critical Care Ultrasound Course, allows GME trainees to nd extra-curricular opportunities for POCUS training during residency or fellowship. However, these courses are limited by their high cost and the time needed to travel for already busy GME trainees.…”