Virtual training improves the use of cardiopulmonary pocus

Virtual training is effective in teaching non-experts on the use of cardiopulmonary service point ultrasound (POCUS), according to research published on June 18 in Open CJC.

Using a longitudinal virtual curriculum program and a tele-consultation model, a team led by Amer Johri, MD, from Queen's University to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, found that the training program has led to a significant improvement in quality, acquisition and interpretation of the Pocus image.

“The … program is about the point of transforming Pocus education across Canada and around the world, allowing institutions to use our existing infrastructure and methodology to train non -expert users by working in malware,” wrote Johri and his colleagues.

" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener nofollow">

Despite the promise that Pocus has to provide imaging services to distant areas, there is a disparity in access to this tool. Researchers noted that the absorption of POCUS training is limited in remote areas.

Johri and his colleagues have evaluated how a POCUS longitudinal and virtual training program could help solve this problem. They launched the accelerated remote cardiopulmonary tele-pocus program (Arctica) in 2021 to provide remote training in POCUS to novice users in geographically isolated communities. Although the team previously completed a successful concept proof study, he stressed that a general adoption and scalability could help to clarify platforms and recommendations for training in national medical training.

Model and chronology of the Arctica program program. Image available for republication under the Creative Commons license (CC by-NND 4.0).Open CJC

" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener nofollow">

For this study, the team recruited 29 non -expert learners for their multicenter study, which included urban teaching hospitals and geographically distant hospitals and nursing stations in four Canadian provinces. The three-week program was made up of online tele-uutrasound consultations (Tele-Pocus) and tele-utrasound consultations (Tele-Pocus).

Researchers have used standardized assessments to measure skills improvement between learners, using a 5 -point Likert scale.

Of the total of the learners recruited, 17 finished the training program, including seven practiced in distant stations. The learners carried out 153 tele-population consultations, including 77 cardiac examinations and 76 pulmonary exams / cry.

The program has led to improvements in the acquisition, quality and interpretation of images for cardiac and pulmonary / pleurural examinations.

The team also pointed out that these results were similar in the laminated analyzes by geographical context. And most learners agreed or strongly agreed that Tele-Pocus was easy to use (82%), clinically relevant (92%) and useful (88%).

Finally, 97% of learners agreed or strongly agreed that they would continue to use Tele-Pocus or Pocus throughout their practice.

The authors of the study wrote that a “precious precious step” would be to assess whether patient's results improve from faster diagnostics via Pocus.

“The expansion of the program can also reside in the adoption of a” train-the-trainer “framework, by which the first learners who demonstrated the competence could be equipped and supported to teach Pocus skills to others in their communities, thus promoting local capacities and sustainability,” wrote the authors.

The full study can be read here.