Building focused cardiac ultrasound capacity in a lower middle-income country: A single centre study to assess training impact.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where echocardiography experts are in short supply, training non-cardiologists to perform Focused Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) could minimise diagnostic delays in time-critical emergencies. Despite advocacy for FoCUS training however, opportunities in LMICs are limited, and the impact of existing curricula uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of FoCUS training based on the Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE) curriculum. Our primary objective was to assess knowledge gain. Secondary objectives were to evaluate novice FoCUS image quality, assess inter-rater agreement between expert and novice FoCUS and identify barriers to the establishment of a FoCUS training programme locally.

Methods

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SUBMITTER: Waweru-Siika W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7474241 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature