Skip to main content

Table 2 Characteristics of the studies

From: Educational standards for training paramedics in ultrasound: a scoping review

Author, year

Country

Participants and Number

Operators & experience with US

Aim

Clinical Conditions

Test Population

Methods

Baldaranov et al. 2015 [20]

Germany

n = 6 Paramedics

US naive

To design and evaluate a dedicated stroke educational program for paramedics including transcranial POCUS.

Stroke

Real patients

Prospective observational study

Booth et al. 2015 UK [14]

n = 9 Paramedics

US naive

Assess whether paramedics can be trained to perform & interpret echo

Cardiac arrest

Healthy models

Prospective observational pilot study

Brooke et al. 2010 UK [37]

n = 10. Paramedics

Advanced paramedics, US naive

Determine if advanced paramedics can be trained to acquire and interpret quality ultrasound images

Pneumothorax

Pre-recorded video clips

Prospective observational cohort study

Cappa et al. 2015 Arizona [28]

Not reported

ED nurses and paramedics

Determine if a program to train nurses and paramedics to place USGIV’s in the ED decreases the use of central lines.

Peripheral Intravenous access

Not reported

Combined retrospective and prospective observational study

Chin et al. 2013

USA [16]

n = 20 Firefighter paramedics

US naive

Determine if EMTs can be trained using Pre-hospital Assessment with US for Emergencies (PAUSE) protocol

Pneumothorax, pericardial effusion & cardiac standstill

Healthy models

Prospective educational intervention study

Heegaard et al. 2004 USA [7]

n = 10. Flight nurses & paramedics

>5 years clinical experience

Develop a training program for air medical clinicians using focused POCUS examinations and assess competencies 1 year later.

FAST in medical & trauma cases

Real patients

Prospective observational study

Heiner & McArthur 2010 USA [17]

n = 20. EMTs

US naive

Study ability of EMTs to be trained to recognize presence of fractures using portable POCUS

Long bone fractures

Simulation model on turkey leg bone

Prospective observational study

Knapp et al. 2012 USA [22]

n = 90 Paramedics 70 EMT-Ps and 20 EMT-Is

Paramedic and Intermediate EMT providers. US naïve.

Determine whether EMS providers at the EMT-intermediate and EMT Paramedic levels can acquire knowledge and skill to operate portable POCUS and achieve high level of accuracy performing cardiac and FAST exams.

Cardiac and FAST

Live standardised patients

Prospective Cohort Educational Study

Lahham et al. 2015 USA [21]

n = 4 Paramedics

US naïve

Determine whether paramedics are capable of obtaining cardiac POCUS images and can use these for adequate clinical decision making, as well as identify cardiac activity in cardiac arrest patients.

Cardiac evaluation

Real patients

Prospective educational intervention study

Lema et al. 2014 New York [26]

n = 31 paramedics n = 2 residents

Naïve US-guided intubation experience

Assess whether paramedics and residents could dynamically identify correct ETT placement in a cadaver model using US.

Correct endotracheal tube placement

Cadaver models

Prospective observational study

Lyon et al. 2012 USA [23]

n = 8 (4 critical care flight paramedics & 4 critical care nurses)

Two with previous limited US exposure, none with experience with clinical US

Determine if pre-hospital critical care providers can be trained to determine presence/absence of the sliding lung sign on POCUS.

Pneumothorax

Cadaver models

Blinded RCT

Press et al. 2013 USA [24]

n = 33 Helicopter paramedics and flight nurses

Majority had no US experience.

Effectiveness of an EFAST training program

FAST

Both simulated patients (with pathology) and real patients

Prospective observational cohort study

Quick et al. 2016

USA [8]

n = 26 flight crew members (flight nurses and paramedics)

In HEMS helicopter with flight crew. US training prior to study commencing.

To evaluate the ability of non-physician aeromedical providers to identify pneumothorax in-flight.

Pneumothorax

Initial training: Healthy models and swine animal models. Study: Real patients

Prospective observational study

Roline et al. 2013 USA [27]

Flight Crew

n = not reported

In HEMS helicopter with flight crew

Evaluate feasibility of bedside thoracic US in helicopter environment

Pneumothorax

Healthy model in training. Real non-pregnant patients transported by HEMS

Prospective pilot study

Unleur et al. 2011 Turkey [18]

n = 4. Paramedics

Senior paramedics working in ED triage. US naive

Accuracy of paramedic performed FAST in ED after trauma

FAST

Real patients

Prospective observational study

Walcher et al. 2010 Germany

n = 9. 5 ED doctors & 4 paramedics (403 participants total trained from 2003 to 06)

US naive. US training day then performed on scene.

Evaluate effectiveness of new training course for prehospital FAST (P-FAST)

FAST in trauma patients

Healthy models, models with positive FAST (ascites or peritoneal dialysis), and real patients

Prospective, multi-centre study

West et al. 2014 USA [19]

n = 9 paramedics (10 enrolled but one pulled out on examination day)

Paramedics with field experience but US naïve

Evaluate the accuracy andtime taken to perform multiple FAST exams in a simulated MCI setting.

FAST in trauma patients during MCI

Healthy models and models with positive FAST (peritoneal dialysis patients)

Single-blinded RCT

Vitto et al. 2015

USA [25]

n = 15 flight nurses and paramedics

. US naïve

Evaluate the ability of flight nurses and paramedics to learn and retain U/S for use during flight and ground transport.

Not Reported

Healthy models and US simulations using US simulator

Prospective observational cohort study