AUTHOR=Sharma Alok , Kumar Gunjana , Nagpal Rema , Naranje Kirti , Sengupta Arnab , Jagannath Vanitha , Suryawanshi Sonali , Suryawanshi Pradeep 

TITLE=Efficacy of an online lung ultrasound module on skill acquisition by clinician: a new paradigm

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1406630

DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1406630

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Abstract:
Introduction: Lung ultrasound (US) as an assessment tool has seen significant expansion in adult, pediatric, and neonatal populations due to advancements in point-of-care ultrasound over the past two decades. However, with fewer experts and learning platforms available in low-middle-income countries and the lack of a standardised supervised training program, lung US is not currently effectively used to the best of its potential in neonatal units.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey assessed the efficacy of learning lung US via a mentor-based online teaching module (NEOPOCUS). The questionnaire comprised the clinicians' demographic profile, pre-course skills and self-assessment of skill acquisition after course completion with ongoing hands-on practice.
Results: One hundred seventy-five clinicians responded to the survey, with the majority (87.9%) working in level 3 and 4 NICUs. Clinicians had variable clinical experience. 53.2% were consultant paediatricians/neonatologists with over ten years of experience. Following the course, there was a significant increase in clinician confidence levels in diagnosing and assessing all lung US pathology, as evidenced by the increase in median cumulative scores [from baseline 6 (IQR 6-9) to 20 (IQR 16-24), p<0.001] with half of them gaining confidence within three months of the course.
Conclusion: An online curriculum-based neonatal lung ultrasound training programme with clinician image demonstration and peer review of images for image optimisation increases self-reported confidence in diagnosing and managing neonatal lung pathology. Web-based online training in neonatal lung ultrasound has merits that can help with the delivery of training globally, and especially in low and middle-income countries.