The ultrasound competency assessment tool for four-view cardiac POCUS

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been recognized as an essential skill across medicine. However, a lack of reliable and streamlined POCUS assessment tools with demonstrated validity remains a significant barrier to widespread clinical integration. The ultrasound competency assessment tool (UCAT) was derived to be a simple, entrustment-based competency assessment tool applicable to multiple POCUS applications. When used to assess a FAST, the UCAT demonstrated high internal consistency and moderate-to-excellent inter-rater reliability. The objective of this study was to validate the UCAT for assessment of a four-view transthoracic cardiac POCUS.

Twenty-two trainees performed a four-view transthoracic cardiac POCUS in a simulated environment while being assessed by two observers. When used to assess a four-view cardiac POCUS the UCAT retained its high internal consistency ([Formula: see text] and moderate-to-excellent inter-rater reliability (ICCs = 0.61-0.91; p's ≤ 0.01) across all domains. The regression analysis suggestion that level of training, previous number of focused cardiac ultrasound, previous number of total scans, self-rated entrustment, and intent to pursue certification statistically significantly predicted UCAT entrustment scores [F (5,16) = 4.06, p = 0.01; R² = 0.56].

This study confirms the UCAT is a valid assessment tool for four-view transthoracic cardiac POCUS. The findings from this work and previous studies on the UCAT demonstrate the utility and flexibility of the UCAT tool across multiple POCUS applications and present a promising way forward for POCUS competency assessment.