Point-of-care ultrasound use, accuracy, and impact on clinical decision making in Rwanda hospitals.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2017
Institution/Department
Emergency
Journal Title
Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
MeSH Headings
Adult, Clinical Competence, Clinical Decision-Making, Cohort Studies, Educational Measurement, Female, Hospitals, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Point-of-Care Systems, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Reproducibility of Results, Rwanda, Sensitivity and Specificity, Utilization Review
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Few studies of point-of-care ultrasound training and use in low resource settings have reported the impact of examinations on clinical management or the longer-term quality of trainee-performed studies. We characterized the long-term effect of a point-of-care ultrasound program on clinical decision making, and evaluated the quality of clinician-performed ultrasound studies.
METHODS: We conducted point-of-care ultrasound training for physicians from Rwandan hospitals. Physicians then used point-of-care ultrasound and recorded their findings, interpretation, and effects on patient management. Data were collected for 6 months. Trainee studies were reviewed for image quality and accuracy.
RESULTS: Fifteen participants documented 1158 ultrasounds; 590 studies (50.9%) had matched images and interpretations for review. Abdominal ultrasound for free fluid was the most frequently performed application. The mean image quality score was 2.36 (95% confidence interval, 2.28-2.44). Overall sensitivity and specificity for trainee-performed examinations was 94 and 98%. Point-of-care ultrasound use most commonly changed medications administered (42.4%) and disposition (30%).
CONCLUSIONS: A point-of-care ultrasound training intervention in a low-resource setting resulted in high numbers of diagnostic-quality studies over long-term follow-up. Ultrasound use routinely changed clinical decision making.
ISSN
1550-9613
First Page
1189
Last Page
1194
Recommended Citation
Henwood, Patricia C; Mackenzie, David C; Liteplo, Andrew S; Rempell, Joshua S; Murray, Alice F; Leo, Megan M; Dukundane, Damas; Dean, Anthony J; Rulisa, Stephen; and Noble, Vicki E, "Point-of-care ultrasound use, accuracy, and impact on clinical decision making in Rwanda hospitals." (2017). Maine Medical Center. 622.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/622
