Scholarlink

Background <p>The Rapid Ultrasound in Shock (RUSH) protocol is an effective point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) tool for diagnosing shock, yet access to training is limited by high costs, instructor shortages, and global disruptions like COVID-19. This study evaluates the impact of an open-access RUSH course on enhancing knowledge and perceived confidence among healthcare learners, focusing on those from Low- and lower-middle-income countries (LIC and LMICs) and with varying levels of prior ultrasound experience.</p> Methods <p>The online RUSH protocol course offered by the International Emergency Medicine (iEM) Education Project via iem-course.org. Participants completed pre- and post-course surveys that gathered demographic information and assessed their confidence using a 0-to-10 Likert scale. Pre- and post-course quizzes were included to measure knowledge gain. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were done as appropriate.</p> Results <p>Of 1,008 participants, 982 completed the pre-course survey; 46.0% reported no formal ultrasound training at their institutions, and 40.2% had never attended an ultrasound course. Participants were from 100 countries, with 67.3% from Asia and 40.5% from LIC and LMICs. Knowledge scores significantly improved from 60.0 (46.7–73.3) to 86.7 (80.0–93.3) (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and perceived confidence also increased (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). No differences were found in score improvements between income groups, though those without prior experience showed greater knowledge gains than those with experience (26.7 vs. 20, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Additionally, 20.5% of participants provided feedback, noting high satisfaction and suggesting scenario-based videos, more challenging quizzes, and offline resources to enhance the course.</p> Conclusion <p>Online education proved to be successful in teaching an advanced ultrasound course by significantly improving knowledge and perceived confidence about the RUSH protocol. The course was attended by a large number of participants globally and was successful for those from LIC and LMICs, and those without prior ultrasound training experience. The online course can be considered as a preparatory phase which saves time for more advanced hands-on practice.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Open-access RUSH protocol course improves knowledge and perceived confidence among healthcare learners

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月17日

查看全文
  • Arif Alper Cevik,
  • Fikri M. Abu-Zidan

摘要

Background

The Rapid Ultrasound in Shock (RUSH) protocol is an effective point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) tool for diagnosing shock, yet access to training is limited by high costs, instructor shortages, and global disruptions like COVID-19. This study evaluates the impact of an open-access RUSH course on enhancing knowledge and perceived confidence among healthcare learners, focusing on those from Low- and lower-middle-income countries (LIC and LMICs) and with varying levels of prior ultrasound experience.

Methods

The online RUSH protocol course offered by the International Emergency Medicine (iEM) Education Project via iem-course.org. Participants completed pre- and post-course surveys that gathered demographic information and assessed their confidence using a 0-to-10 Likert scale. Pre- and post-course quizzes were included to measure knowledge gain. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were done as appropriate.

Results

Of 1,008 participants, 982 completed the pre-course survey; 46.0% reported no formal ultrasound training at their institutions, and 40.2% had never attended an ultrasound course. Participants were from 100 countries, with 67.3% from Asia and 40.5% from LIC and LMICs. Knowledge scores significantly improved from 60.0 (46.7–73.3) to 86.7 (80.0–93.3) (p < 0.001), and perceived confidence also increased (p < 0.001). No differences were found in score improvements between income groups, though those without prior experience showed greater knowledge gains than those with experience (26.7 vs. 20, p = 0.003). Additionally, 20.5% of participants provided feedback, noting high satisfaction and suggesting scenario-based videos, more challenging quizzes, and offline resources to enhance the course.

Conclusion

Online education proved to be successful in teaching an advanced ultrasound course by significantly improving knowledge and perceived confidence about the RUSH protocol. The course was attended by a large number of participants globally and was successful for those from LIC and LMICs, and those without prior ultrasound training experience. The online course can be considered as a preparatory phase which saves time for more advanced hands-on practice.