Abstract
BackgroundEmergency ultrasound is a relatively new diagnostic discipline. It is used as an extension of the clinical examination and is ideal in the setting of acute illness. The objective of this study was to investigate how many Emergency Departments (EDs) in Denmark have implemented emergency ultrasound. We also wanted to give an idea of how many and which physicians have adopted ultrasound as a diagnostic tool so far.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter survey that included all physician staffed EDs in Denmark. An Internet based questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to all heads of department. Those departments who responded that ultrasound was available in their department were included in the second part of the study where all physicians working in the ED were contacted and asked to complete a second questionnaire.ResultsAll 28 eligible EDs participated in the first part of the study (Response rate: 100 %). 25 EDs (89 %, 95 % CI: 85-93) had ultrasound equipment available. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,872 physicians in these departments and 561 responded (Response rate: 30 %, 95 % CI: 28-32). Overall 257 (46 %, 95 % CI: 42-50) were users of emergency ultrasound and 304 were non-users (54 %, 95 % CI: 50-58). The largest group with 146 respondents (25 %, 95 % CI: 21-29) were anaesthetists with merely consult duty in the ED. When looking exclusively on physicians with on-call duty in the ED, thus excluding anaesthetists, only 146 (35 %, 95 % CI: 30-40) were users of ultrasound while 269 (65 %, 95 % CI: 60-70) were non-users. There was a considerable difference regarding age, level of training, and medical specialty between users and non-users. Users were mainly anaesthetists and attending physicians from other departments. The majority of non-users were young physicians with on call duty in the ED.ConclusionsWe have found that although almost all Danish EDs have ultrasound equipment available, few physicians working in the ED seem to have adopted the tool. Emergency Ultrasound is mainly performed by specialists who are summoned to the ED in case of severe acute illness and not by those physicians who comprise the backbone of the ED around the clock.
Highlights
Emergency ultrasound is a relatively new diagnostic discipline
In countries like England, Ireland and the United States, ultrasound diagnostics is an educational element for all physicians who complete training that will lead to a permanent position in an Emergency Departments (EDs) [1, 2]
The head of department at all 28 EDs responded to the first part of our survey
Summary
Emergency ultrasound is a relatively new diagnostic discipline. It is used as an extension of the clinical examination and is ideal in the setting of acute illness. The use of diagnostic ultrasound in the ED has, for many years, been a well-integrated part of the initial investigation of the acute patient. Point-of-care ultrasound is used as a supplement to or as an integrated part of the clinical examination of the patient. It differs from traditional ultrasound diagnostics performed by radiologists, in the sense that the studies are simple, focused and primarily serve the purpose of answering a specific clinical question [3].
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