Impact of point-of-care ultrasound use on patient referral decisions in rural Kenya: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is recognized as a key imaging modality to bridge the diagnostic imaging gap in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). POCUS use has been shown to impact patient management decisions including referral for specialist care. This study explored the impact of POCUS use on referral decisions among trained healthcare providers working in primary rural and peri-urban health facilities in Kenya.

Methods

A concurrent mixed methods approach was used, including a locally developed survey (N = 38) and semi-structured interviews of POCUS trained healthcare providers (N = 12). Data from the survey was descriptively analyzed and interviews were evaluated through the framework matrix method.

Results

Survey results of in-facility access

SUBMITTER: Wanjiku GW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10870490 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature