| Popis: |
BackgroundPoint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been an essential component of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s higher speciality curriculum since 2010. However, it has only been part of the Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) syllabus since 2018, with its use less well-embraced by the specialty. In comparison, POCUS has become increasingly established in PEM departments across North America, with widespread evidence supporting its diagnostic and procedural application in PEM. These successful practices highlight the potential for POCUS to be further implemented within PEM departments in the UK.ObjectivesThe absence of a standardised PEM-specific POCUS training program in the UK led us to suspect a possible wide disparity in the training and delivery of POCUS among PEM clinicians. Following on from the 2019 PERUKI study, which aimed to determine the current implementation and practices of POCUS in various PEM departments, we decided to focus in on and survey a cohort of trainees to evaluate their current opinions, experiences and attitudes towards POCUS in PEM.MethodsWe created an online survey and distributed it in October 2020 to a sample of trainees from our tertiary paediatric site. The survey questions not only ascertained variation in POCUS experience and formal training, but had a novel focus in targeting the barriers to its more frequent implementation as well as the attitudes of the trainees towards the future of POCUS in PEM education.ResultsWe received a 56% response rate from the trainees invited to participate in the survey. Our results confirmed a deficiency in the standardised POCUS training amongst the PEM clinicians, with 89% having no PEM-specific POCUS training. We observed an underuse of POCUS at our site, with 76.9% stating they have ‘never’ used POCUS for diagnostic purposes. Despite this, >60% agreed with the statement that ‘POCUS is a necessary addition to PEM’, with zero disagreement. 100% of trainees voted that they would like further teaching, recognising the need for the development of a PEM-specific training curriculum before they can confidently utilise it in their day to day practice. 100% of the trainees believe that POCUS should be taught to postgraduates, 67% to undergraduates.ConclusionsThe results of our survey have emphasised the need for a PEM-specific POCUS training pathway in the UK. We confirmed that the severe underuse in POCUS application was not due to a lack of enthusiasm, but rather a lack of training. The large majority of our respondents believe POCUS to be an essential adjunct to paediatric emergency medicine, however its user-dependency in the absence of well-established training severely restricts its potential as a diagnostic and procedural tool. Given current circumstances, an endeavour into implementing standardised teaching in postgraduate training would be worthwhile. The role of POCUS could prove useful in this COVID era, such as the potential to reduce clinician’s exposure to the virus in the examination of COVID lung pathologies. |
