Routine Application of Lung Ultrasonography in Respiratory Care: Knowledge, Perceptions, and Barriers to Instigate

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is a valuable bedside tool for diagnosing respiratory conditions.
• Respiratory Therapists (RTs) play a vital role in critical care settings.
• Assessing RTs' knowledge, perceived relevance, skill gaps, and barriers regarding LUS is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of RTs in Saudi Arabia concerning LUS.
• To identify current skill gaps and barriers hindering LUS adoption in RT practice.
• To determine the perceived relevance of LUS to clinical practice among RTs.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among RTs in Saudi Arabia.
• A validated questionnaire assessed demographics, knowledge, perceptions, proficiency, and barriers related to LUS.
• Data were collected from 256 participating RTs.

Main Results:

• Only 18.1% of RTs currently use LUS, with 43% lacking formal training.
• A majority (66%) perceive LUS as effective, yet significant gaps exist in specific applications like lung scoring (50.4%) and pulmonary edema assessment (38.3%).
• Lack of training and curriculum integration (60.2%) is the primary barrier to LUS use.

Conclusions:

• RTs in Saudi Arabia acknowledge LUS's effectiveness but face a significant competence gap.
• There is a clear need to incorporate LUS training into RT educational curricula.
• Competency-based training programs are essential for the current RT workforce to improve LUS utilization and patient care.