1. Emergency physicians’ attitudes to implementing ultrasound in Dutch emergency departments after a 2-day training: A qualitative study.
- Author
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Ketelaars, Rein, Van Heumen, Esther, Baken, Lambert P., Witten, Marja, Scheffer, Gert Jan, Engels, Yvonne, and Hoogerwerf, Nico
- Subjects
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EMERGENCY physicians , *DIAGNOSTIC ultrasonic imaging , *EMERGENCY medicine , *QUALITATIVE research , *EMERGENCY medical services , *ATTITUDE (Psychology) - Abstract
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
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