P396 Bowel ultrasound training in European and Mediterranean Countries: results of a survey

Abstract

Abstract Background Bowel ultrasound (US) is a cost-effective, non-invasive, accurate, and readily available tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Moreover, it can be an accurate tool in the hands of gastroenterologists for the initial assessment of patients with chronic and acute intestinal disorders -such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea- to rule in and out organic causes. Currently, it is not known how many European residents in gastroenterology or internal medicine who care for IBD patients have the opportunity to have a bowel US training. Tha aims of our study were to investigate the bowel US training in Europe and the perception of utility of this diagnostic technique. Methods The participants of the survey were residents from different Countries who voluntarily chose to take part in one of the two first editions of the bowel US course, one of the optional courses held during the UEG Summer School in Prague (2022 and 2023). Participants answered an initial test in a digital anonymous questionnaire. Results Among the 135 participants in the course, 104 (77%) answered all the questions. Respondents were from 28 European and Mediterranean area Countries. The majority of respondents (60.6%) were residents in their 3rd and 4th year of specialization (men 58.7%). Among the respondents, 61 (58.7%) stated they had a general abdominal US training period during their residency (62.5% of them reporting <100 exams performed). (Figure 1) It was not offered any bowel US training to 76% of residents. (Figure 2) Among the respondents, the Italian residents showed the highest probability to have a bowel US training (7/13, 53,8%). At a Likert scale, 96.2% stated that bowel US is important for their future profession (Figure 3) and 93.3% stated it is important for treatment decision in gastroenterology. (Figure 4) Conclusion Our survey reveals, despite the possible limits given by the response and selection bias, that in Europe bowel US training is deficient and heterogeneous. Only one every four participants received a bowel US training during their residency, despite bowel US knowledge is considered a necessary skill by approximately 95% of young gastroenterologists who participated in the course. Since less than 2/3 have a US period during their residency (often insufficient), it is likely that most residents interested in bowel US are forced to acquire this skill attending other specific courses during or after their residency. Solutions may be represented by the implementation of specific courses or with the institution of minimum bowel US training level during the residency.