Responder demographics and survey questions concerning competency, access to training, confidence and practices | n (%) |
---|---|
Training grade (n=202) | |
ST3–ST4 | 79 (39.1%) |
ST5–ST6 | 88 (43.6%) |
ST7 | 27 (13.4%) |
Post CCT | 8 (4.0%) |
Level 1 competence (n=199) | 131 (65.8%) |
Training grade if Level 1 competent (n=131) | |
ST3–ST4 | 31 (23.7%) |
ST5–ST6 | 70 (53.4%) |
ST7 | 23 (17.6%) |
Post CCT | 7 (5.3%) |
Deemed Level 1 competent by: (n=108) | |
Radiologist | 34 (31.5%) |
Respiratory consultant (unsure of experience) | 9 (8.3%) |
Respiratory consultant with Level 1 competence | 17 (15.7%) |
Respiratory consultant with Level 2 competence | 48 (44.4%) |
Number of ultrasound examinations performed in the past year by Level 1 accredited trainees (n=107) | |
0 | 3 (2.8%) |
1–20 | 19 (17.8%) |
21–50 | 34 (31.8%) |
Over 50 | 51 (47.7%) |
At your current hospital, are radiologists willing to train respiratory trainees in thoracic ultrasound? (n=175) | |
Don't know/haven't asked | 94 (53.7%) |
No | 48 (27.4%) |
Yes | 33 (18.9%) |
If unsure about findings, how easy is it to seek advice from a competent ultrasonographer? (n=171) | |
Impossible | 5 (2.9%) |
Not easy | 45 (26.3%) |
Neutral | 26 (15.2%) |
Easy | 79 (46.2%) |
Very easy | 16 (9.4%) |
How are ultrasound queries usually reviewed? (n=169) | |
Real-time ultrasound evaluation | 71 (42.0%) |
Review of captured images/videos | 31 (18.3%) |
You provide a verbal description of findings | 67 (39.6%) |
When supervised, how often do you feel your supervisor is adequately trained to do so? (n=162) | |
Never | 9 (5.6%) |
Rarely | 4 (2.5%) |
Sometimes | 20 (12.3%) |
Often | 51 (31.5%) |
Always | 78 (48.1%) |
Do you use ultrasound for pleural procedures (other than aspiration of a pneumothorax)? (n=169) | |
Never | 13 (7.7%) |
Rarely | 12 (7.1%) |
Sometimes | 14 (8.3%) |
Often | 23 (13.6%) |
Always | 107 (63.3%) |
How often do you feel confident performing pleural procedures based on your own assessment of the thorax on ultrasound? (n=172) | |
Never | 1 (0.6%) |
Rarely | 2 (1.2%) |
Sometimes | 14 (8.1%) |
Often | 80 (46.5%) |
Always | 75 (43.6%) |
CCT = certificate of completion of training; ST = specialty training year