Toward a Consensus for Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Education in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: A National Poll of Residency Directors.
Marcia A Bockbrader, Ryan D Thompson, David P Way and 7 others
PMID 31318753WHAT IT FOUND
PM&R residency programs varied in musculoskeletal ultrasound teaching: most had some curriculum, but few required competency, and inadequate preceptor knowledge and unclear teaching standards were top barriers.
Key findings
01Among 42 responding programs, 35 incorporated MSKUS curricula and 7 did not.
02Inadequate preceptor knowledge and experience was the most important barrier, named by nearly 43% of respondents; lack of equipment and inadequate literature were next.
03Only 8 responding programs, or 19% of respondents, required MSKUS competency for graduation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only 42 of 78 programs responded, and the response likely favoured programs already teaching MSKUS. The survey relied on program director or delegate reports, not resident reports. The survey did not ask how programs evaluated MSKUS competency for graduation. Some comparisons involved very small groups, including only 2 responders in the MSKUS negative group for scan volume. The data describe 2015, before ACGME program requirements for MSKUS, so current practice may differ. Resident interest was inferred from director ratings about barriers, not from residents.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were reported by the authors or by individuals controlling the content.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that all PM&R residents receive consistent musculoskeletal ultrasound training. Only 42 of 78 programs responded, and the response likely favoured programs already teaching it.