Competency of Ultrasound Knowledge of Laos Emergency
Medicine Residents during International Elective Rotation
in Thailand
Kamonwon Ienghong1, Takaaki Suzuki2, Alongkone Phengsavanh3, Titaporn Nasaarn1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 2 Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan, 3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Laos
Background: International rotations for EM residents are becoming increasingly popular. However, there is a dearth of evidence to demonstrate that these rotations can be performed utilizing the POCUS training and that residents have appropriate training, which could assist them in improving their point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) knowledge.
Objective: The researchers aimed at evaluating the POCUS knowledge of the international EM residents after the POCUS training during an international elective rotation.
Materials and Methods: A curriculum was developed in the form of a 4-week rotation in the Laos EM residency program at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Khon Kaen University’s Srinagarind Hospital. It consisted of didactic lectures, bedside ultrasound trainings, the journal club, and the process of reviewing the images. Tools were developed, which included a knowledge exam, which was designed to test the residents’ image interpretation abilities and their clinical decision-making processes. The assessments were administered before and after each resident’s rotation.
Results: Eight Laos EM residents completed their rotations and the tests. The average Pre-training scores and Post-training scores were 11.13+1.27 and 17.75+1.30, respectively. The average knowledge test score was found to have significantly improved from 55.63% to 88.75%.
Conclusion: A POCUS training for the Laos EM residency program in the international elective rotation was able to be developed. Through participating in this training, the residents had been able to improve their basic POCUS knowledge, which will aid the emergency physicians to better care for their patients.
doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.S01.12138
Keywords : Ultrasound, POCUS, Emergency medicine, International cooperation
