Key result
Primary care residents with minimal training were able to successfully perform abdominal aortic ultrasound imaging in 57 of 60 attempts, with results consistent with the vascular laboratory.
Why the study?
Can primary care residents accurately perform ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening compared to a vascular lab?
Observational (n=60)
Single-blind (Residents blinded to previous study results)
No
Can primary care residents accurately perform ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening compared to a vascular lab?
Primary care residents can rapidly learn to perform accurate ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening with minimal training.
May support resident AAA ultrasound training; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before practice change.
A prospective pilot study was undertaken to assess a protocol to educate primary care residents in how to personally perform ultrasonography for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. Resident exams were proctored by a primary care physician trained in ultrasonography and were scored on the level of competence in doing the examination. Patients had ultrasound performed by a resident, followed by repeat examination by the vascular lab. Primary care resident abdominal aortic imaging was achieved in 79 of 80 attempts. Four abdominal aortic aneurysms were identified. There were 75 normal examinations; resident ultrasonography results were consistent with the results of the vascular lab. Ten residents achieved an abdominal aortic ultrasound-independent competence level after an average of 3.4 proctored exams. The main outcome of this study is that a primary care resident, with minimal training in ultrasonography imaging, is able to rapidly learn the technique of ultrasonography imaging of the abdominal aorta.
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Bailey et al. (2001) conducted an observational in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (n=60). Ultrasonography training for primary care residents vs. Vascular lab ultrasonography was evaluated on Successful abdominal aortic imaging by primary care residents (57 of 60 attempts). Primary care residents with minimal training were able to successfully perform abdominal aortic ultrasound imaging in 57 of 60 attempts, with results consistent with the vascular laboratory.
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