The impact of ultrasound scan training on its usage among emergency personnel in Malaysian emergency departments

Abstract

Results 29 hospitals responded including 15 general hospitals, 11 district hospitals and 3 university hospitals. All ED has at least 1 ultrasound machine. In general hospitals, patient load ranged between 60,000 – 320,000 per year. Mean number of EPs is 4. Mean percentage of EPs who had attended any course is 79% (SD 27.8). In 7 hospitals, 100% had attended a course. In 1 hospital, the sole EP has not attended an USS course. The average percentage of Medical Officers (MO) who had attended an USS course is 41% (SD 17.7). In terms of frequency of USS usage, 80% cited usage of ‘very often’ and 20% cited ‘often’. In district hospitals, patient load varied between 45,000 -130,000 per year. Most EDs had at least 1 EP. Except for one EP, all had attended an USS course. 35% of MOs had attended an USS course (SD 32.9). The frequency of use cited was 30% as ‘very often’ and 70% as ‘often’. Whilst in university hospitals, patient load was between 65,000 – 100,000 patients per year. The mean number of EPs was 11. An average of 53% of EPs had attended an USS course, but only 26% of MOs had attended a similar course. In terms of frequency of use, 67% cited ‘very often’ and 33% cited ‘often’. All agreed that USS changed their clinical management significantly.