Background
Despite the utilization of point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) by trauma surgeons, formal POCUS requirements do not exist for general surgery residents. We sought to evaluate surgery resident comfort with performing and interpreting of Extended‐Focused Assessment for Sonography in Trauma (E‐FAST) scans after a brief educational session.
Methods
A pre‐survey, sent to PGY‐2 and ‐3 surgical residents before their trauma rotation, evaluated comfort with eight components of the E‐FAST. Residents were then required to watch a 15‐min online video and attend a 1‐h bedside training session moderated by emergency medicine ultrasound fellows during which residents practised E‐FAST image acquisition and interpretation. After the rotation, residents completed a post‐survey evaluating their comfort with the E‐FAST.
Results
All 27 residents rotating on the trauma service during the 2017–2018 academic year were eligible and, therefore, approached by the study team. Twenty‐one (77.78%) residents completed the pre‐survey, training and post‐survey. Initially, only 52% (13/25) of residents reported feeling confident in performing the E‐FAST. After the session, all (100%) reported feeling confident in their training in E‐FAST. Self‐reported mean comfort with each of the eight components of the E‐FAST showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase from pre–post survey for all residents. Isolating only the residents who initially reported feeling confident in E‐FAST still showed a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in mean comfort.
Conclusion
A single POCUS training programme has been shown to improve surgical residents' comfort in performing and interpreting the E‐FAST. This interdisciplinary approach can enhance collaboration and bridge gaps between emergency medicine and surgery residency programmes.