Application of Digital, Web-Based, and Online Strategies in Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Training: A Scoping...

Ultrasound is a commonly used modality in healthcare. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is performed at the patient's bedside with many purported benefits.

Given its increasingly popularity, this scoping review examined the role of digital, web-based, and online educational strategies for POCUS.

Adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute's Approach for Evidence Synthesis, and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyze Scoping Review reporting guidelines, a systematic search of academic (Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Ovid Emcare, Scopus, CINAHL) and gray literature (Google Scholar, organizational websites) were conducted. Two independent reviewers screened the literature. Data were independently extracted using customized data extraction tools and narratively synthesized.

Forty-seven studies were included, revealing a myriad of strategies for POCUS training, with online strategy being the most common. While the evidence demonstrated positive impacts across a range of domains (knowledge, competency, clinical outcome, image acquisition, interpretation and quality, technical feasibility, user experience), these findings were constrained by heterogeneity in training strategies and outcomes measured.

Although the evidence points to broad benefits and can help inform future educational strategies for POCUS training, the evidence base would be strengthened by standardized training parameters and outcome measures.