1. Simulation Improves Emergency Medicine Residents’ Clinical Performance of Aorta Point-of-Care Ultrasound
- Author
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Wubben, Brandon M. and Wittrock, Cory
- Subjects
point-of-care ,ultrasonography ,Simulation ,Abdominal aortic aneurysm ,POCUS ,Emergency Medicine - Abstract
Purpose: Using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an essential skill in emergency medicine (EM). While simulation-based POCUS education is commonly used, the translation to performance in the emergency department (ED) is unknown. We investigated whether adding case-based simulation to an EM residency curriculum was associated with changes in the quantity and quality of aorta POCUS performed by residents in the ED.Methods: A case-based simulation was introduced to resident didactics at our academic, Level I trauma center. A case of undifferentiated abdominal pain was presented, which required examination of an ultrasound phantom to diagnose an AAA, with a hands-on didactic. We compared the quantity, quality, and descriptive analyses of aorta POCUS performed in the ED during the four months before and after the simulation.Results: For participating residents (17/32), there was an 86% increase in total studies and an 80%increase in clinical studies. On an opportunity-adjusted, per-resident basis, there was no significant difference in median total scans per 100 shifts (4.4 [interquartile range (IQR) 0–15.8 vs 8.3 [IQR] 3.3–23.6, P = 0.21) or average total quality scores (3.2 ± 0.6 vs 3.2 ± 0.5, P = 0.92). The total number of limited or inadequate studies decreased (43% vs 19%, P = 0.02), and the proportion of scans submitted by interns increased (7% vs 54%, P =
- Published
- 2024