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 |