Ultrasound Training in Surgical Critical Care Fellowship: A Survey of Program Directors. J Surg Educ 2018;75(5):1250-1255
Date
02/17/2018Pubmed ID
29449161DOI
10.1016/j.jsurg.2018.01.017Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85044950723 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 8 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Surgical critical care (SCC) fellows are expected to receive training in critical care ultrasound (CCUS) but training is sporadic and there is no standardized curriculum to guide educators. Previous studies show wide variation in CCUS training during fellowship across specialties but SCC has been underrepresented. This study was performed to assess SCC program directors' views regarding CCUS during fellowship training.
DESIGN: Adult SCC program directors were surveyed regarding the role of CCUS in fellowship training. This survey assessed how CCUS training was performed, perceived barriers to education, and importance of specific studies. Survey responses were measured using a Likert scale ranging from 5 (strongly agree) to 1 (strongly disagree).
SETTING: Web-based survey.
PARTICIPANTS: Adult Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program Directors.
RESULTS: A total 67 of 108 (62%) SCC program directors responded to the survey. Over 75% felt that CCUS during training should be a priority. Fifteen (24.6%) programs required a specific number of ultrasounds to be performed. Five programs (7.5%) provided no CCUS training at all. Over 75% felt that training in FAST, transthoracic echocardiography, inferior vena cava assessment, and US for procedures (line placement, thoracentesis, and paracentesis) were either important or very important but experience in transesophageal echocardiography, assessment for deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary US were not important. Lack of time (63.8%) and trained faculty (51.2%) were the most cited barriers to training.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide variation in how CCUS training is performed during SCC fellowship. SCC programs will need trained faculty, appropriate time allocation, and implementation of a standardized curriculum to provide consistent and high-quality CCUS education during fellowship.
Author List
Carver TWAuthor
Thomas W. Carver MD Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultClinical Competence
Critical Care
Education, Medical, Graduate
Fellowships and Scholarships
Female
General Surgery
Humans
Male
Physician Executives
Program Evaluation
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ultrasonography
United States
