The Influence of Thoracic Ultrasound on the Clinical Practice of Pulmonologists in Portugal

Thoracic ultrasound (TUS) has garnered increased recognition, both in aiding pleural procedures and as a complement to physical examination. Operator ability is essential to obtain reliable findings. This study aimed to inquire pulmonology specialists and residents about their confidence with the technique and to determine future needs.

A self-administered online survey, including a total of 24 questions, was sent to pulmonology specialists and residents registered as members of the Portuguese Pulmonology Society. Participation was pseudoanonymized and voluntary.

One hundred fourteen valid answers were obtained. Most responders had prior TUS training. The primary method for knowledge consolidation was unsupervised practice. The majority had an ultrasound machine available in their daily practice; only 17% performed TUS more than 3 times per week. Overall confidence in TUS usage for diagnostic purposes (median: 7/10), disease monitoring (median: 7/10), and invasive procedures (median: 8/10) were high. There was a significant relation between higher levels of confidence and regularly attending TUS courses and performing TUS more than 3 times per week. The main reasons cited as preventing regular use of TUS were the availability/cost of courses and the availability/cost of equipment.

Regular TUS training and utilization are essential to boost user's confidence degree. Its use is already a regular feature in the daily practice of pulmonologists in Portugal, but further and better structured training is required to meet the needs of clinicians. The inclusion of mandatory TUS training in residency programs should be considered in the future.