Pediatric Residents' Perceptions of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound Collaboration With Emergency Medicine

Brandon M Wubben; Megan Oberbillig; Cory Wittrock; Kacie Rytlewski; Caitlin K Thirnbeck; Christian Junker; Amy Stier

doi:10.7759/cureus.41645

Pediatric Residents' Perceptions of a Point-of-Care Ultrasound Collaboration With Emergency Medicine

Cureus. 2023 Jul 10;15(7):e41645. doi: 10.7759/cureus.41645. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Brandon M Wubben¹, Megan Oberbillig², Cory Wittrock¹, Kacie Rytlewski², Caitlin K Thirnbeck², Christian Junker¹, Amy Stier²

Affiliations

¹ Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.
² Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA.

Abstract

Background Pediatric residencies expanding their point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education face barriers, including a lack of established curriculum and qualified educators. Prior studies report partnerships between pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine (PEM); however, many non-PEM emergency medicine (EM) physicians with POCUS fellowship training also have experience with pediatric POCUS and represent an alternate educational partner. Objectives To improve pediatric residents' POCUS skills through collaborative education with EM and evaluate perceptions of the teaching format and instructors. Methods First through third-year pediatric residents attended a half-day didactic and hands-on session about renal, lung, and musculoskeletal (MSK) POCUS. These educational sessions were led by EM faculty with POCUS fellowship training and assisted by EM residents. Post-session surveys were administered to pediatric residents to assess prior POCUS experience, changes in confidence in acquiring and interpreting renal, lung, and MSK POCUS images, and opinions about the educational format. Statistical analyses of the post-session survey data were performed using SPSS. Results Thirty-nine pediatric residents attended the session and completed the survey of 45 total residents in the program (86.7%), with 89.7% completing 10 or fewer POCUS studies. Residents' comfort level with performing lung POCUS increased from 5.1% to 82.1% (p < .001), renal POCUS from 10.3% to 76.9% (p < .001), and MSK POCUS from 7.7% to 84.6% (p < .001). 87.2% rated the educational format as effective, and 94.9% (37/39) rated emergency medicine faculty as 'very effective' in providing ultrasound education relevant to the practice of pediatrics. Conclusion Pediatric resident POCUS education taught by EM faculty with POCUS fellowship training was well-received by pediatric residents and significantly improved confidence in acquiring and interpreting POCUS.

Keywords: emergency medicine ultrasound; medical education; pediatrics residents; pocus; point-of-care ultrasonography; ultrasound education.