%0 Journal Article
%T Implementation of a point
%A Emily Cochard
%A W Graham Carlos
%A Zachary Fulkerson
%J Ultrasound
%@ 1743-1344
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1742271X18791317
%X Point-of-care ultrasound is recognized as a safe and valuable diagnostic tool for patient evaluation. Hospitalists are prime candidates for advancing the point-of-care ultrasound field given their crucial role in inpatient medicine. Despite this, there is a notable lack of evidence-based ultrasound training for hospitalists. Most research focuses on diagnostic accuracy rather than the training required to achieve it. This study aims to improve hospitalists' point-of-care ultrasound knowledge and skills through a hands-on skills practicum. Four skill practicums were conducted with pre-course, post-course, and six-month evaluations and knowledge assessments. The mean pre- vs. post-course knowledge assessment scores significantly improved, 41.7% vs. 75.9% (SD 16.1% and 12.7%, respectively, p£¿<£¿0.0001). The mean ultrasound skills confidence ratings on a 10-point Likert scale significantly increased post-course (2.60£¿¡À£¿1.66 vs. 6.33£¿¡À£¿1.63, p£¿<£¿0.0001), but decreased at six months (6.33£¿¡À£¿1.63 vs. 4.10£¿¡À£¿2.22, p£¿<£¿0.0001). The greatest limitations to usage pre-course and at six months were knowledge/skills and lack of machine access. While knowledge/skills decreased from pre-course (82.0%) as compared to six-months (64.3%), lack of machine access increased from pre-course (15.8%) to six-months (28.6%) (p£¿=£¿0.28). Hospitalists agree that point-of-care ultrasound has utility in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients, though the lack of training is a significant limitation. Our study demonstrated that a brief skills practicum significantly improves hospitalists¡¯ confidence and knowledge regarding ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation in the short term. Long-term confidence and usage wanes, which appears to be due to the lack of machine access
%K Bedside ultrasound
%K diagnostic ultrasound
%K ultrasound training
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1742271X18791317