Emergency physicians’ attitudes to implementing ultrasound in Dutch emergency departments after a 2-day training: A qualitative study

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound is increasingly used by nonradiologists in trauma victims and critically ill patients. In the emergency department, the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma and Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program protocol are often used to assess these patients. Dutch Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program-trained Emergency physicians are implementing the use of ultrasound in the emergency department but might encounter barriers to overcome. Objectives: This study aims to explore individual experiences of Dutch emergency physicians. Methods: We perfor... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Ketelaars, Rein
Van Heumen, Esther
Baken, Lambert P
Witten, Marja
Scheffer, Gert Jan
Engels, Yvonne
Hoogerwerf, Nico
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2018
Reihe/Periodikum: Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine ; volume 25, issue 5, page 249-256 ; ISSN 1024-9079 2309-5407
Verlag/Hrsg.: Wiley
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-29051474
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1024907918771812

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound is increasingly used by nonradiologists in trauma victims and critically ill patients. In the emergency department, the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma and Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program protocol are often used to assess these patients. Dutch Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program-trained Emergency physicians are implementing the use of ultrasound in the emergency department but might encounter barriers to overcome. Objectives: This study aims to explore individual experiences of Dutch emergency physicians. Methods: We performed a qualitative study by conducting semi-structured interviews in Dutch emergency physicians working in a Level 2 emergency department that completed the 2-day Polytrauma Rapid Echo-evaluation Program course at least 1 year before the interviews. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results: Eight emergency physicians employed by eight different hospitals were interviewed. Thirteen categories were identified in the transcribed interviews and these were combined into four general themes: (1) the desire to develop the Emergency Medicine specialty, both nationally and local; (2) incentives to start using ultrasound; (3) exploring practical applications of ultrasound; and (4) barriers faced while implementing emergency physician-performed ultrasound on the emergency department. The interviewees regard the course to be a solid base and are eager to independently perform ultrasound examinations, although challenges are faced. Conclusion: This exploratory study provides essential insight in Dutch emergency physicians implementing ultrasound in their emergency department. It shows that there is a need to develop a quality assurance system and it identified barriers that have to be dealt with.