Perception, Challenges, and Barriers of Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound Among Respiratory Therapist in the United States

Abstract

BackgroundPoint of Care Lung Ultrasound (POCLUS) has gained significant interest within the respiratory therapy (RT) profession. Research Question1- Does participating in an online on-demand POCLUS didactic course affect the willingness to use or promote POCLUS among respiratory therapists (RT)?2- What are the critical barriers to the implementation of POCLUS?3- What are the perceptions of RTs about the use of POCLUS? MethodsThis study used a pre- versus post-educational interventional design and has received approval from the institutional review board. Subjects were recruited via social media channels. The inclusion criteria required participants to be licensed registered RTs actively engaged in bedside practice within the United States (U.S.). After signing the informed consent, participants completed an online survey, underwent the online course, and participated in a 2-week follow-up survey. ResultsA total of seventy participants, with a mean age of 38.8±9.0 years, participated in the study. Most participants were females (n=50, 71.4%) and had been practicing as RTs for over a year (n=65, 92.9%). Most participants (87.1%, n=61) had observed POCLUS being performed on a patient and were curious to use it following the course; 97.1% (n=68) believed that POCLUS should be incorporated into the clinical assessment. Additionally, 91.4% (n=64) of the participants discussed the POCLUS elements with fellow respiratory therapists, and 90% (n=63) reported an increased willingness to employ this skill. The top barriers to performing POCLUS were the lack of a formal curriculum and limited device availability. Interestingly, financial incentives did not emerge as a significant barrier. ConclusionOur findings show that RTs display strong willingness and interest in integrating POCLUS into their daily clinical assessments. The inclusion of POCLUS in the curriculum was found to be the primary barrier, while surprisingly, financial incentives were not reported as a significant barrier.