Point of Care Ultrasonographic Life Support in Emergency (PULSE)—a quasi‐experimental study
Dublin Core
Title
Point of Care Ultrasonographic Life Support in Emergency (PULSE)—a quasi‐experimental study
Subject
Point of care, Ultrasound, Life support, Emergency
Description
Background Many physicians use point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in their clinical practice to improve their diag-
nostic capabilities, accuracy, and timeliness. Over the last two decades, the use of PoCUS in the emergency room
has dramatically increased. This study aimed to determine emergency physicians’ retention of knowledge and skills
after a brief training workshop on a focused ultrasound-guided approach to a patient presenting with undifferenti-
ated shock, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrest in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. The
secondary aim was to deliver the PoCUS-guided algorithmic approach to manage a patient presenting with undiffer-
entiated shock, respiratory distress, and cardiac arrest in the emergency department.
Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a single-day Point of Care Ultrasonographic Life Sup-
port in Emergency (PULSE) training workshop in October 2021 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
A total of 32 participants attended the course, including twenty-one junior residents (PGY 1 and 2) and medical offic-
ers with experience of fewer than two years working in different emergency departments of urban tertiary care hospi-
tals across Karachi, Pakistan. Pre- and post-assessment tools comprised a written examination, evaluating participants’
knowledge and skills in ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation. Cronbach’s alpha was used to calculate
the validity of the tool. Results obtained before and after the training session were compared by the McNemar’s test.
A p value of≤0.05 was considered significant.
Results There was a significant improvement in response to each question pre to post-test after completion
of the course (Table 1). The significant change can be seen in questions 7, 8, 13, and 15, with a percentage change
of 33.3, 80.9, 42.9, and 47.7. There was a significant improvement in the understanding and knowledge of participants
after the training. The scores in the post-test were high compared to the pre-test in each category, i.e., respiratory distress
(p<0.017), cardiac arrest (p<0.041), basic ultrasound knowledge (p<0.001), and undifferentiated shock (p<0.001).
Conclusion All participants showed improvement in their knowledge and confidence regarding using PoCUS in life-
threatening conditions. Through this study, we have also developed an algorithmic approach to managing undif-
ferentiated shock, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Future studies must assess the effectiveness and feasibility
of incorporating these algorithms into clinical practice.
Keywords Point of care, Ultrasound, Life support, Emergency
nostic capabilities, accuracy, and timeliness. Over the last two decades, the use of PoCUS in the emergency room
has dramatically increased. This study aimed to determine emergency physicians’ retention of knowledge and skills
after a brief training workshop on a focused ultrasound-guided approach to a patient presenting with undifferenti-
ated shock, shortness of breath, and cardiac arrest in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. The
secondary aim was to deliver the PoCUS-guided algorithmic approach to manage a patient presenting with undiffer-
entiated shock, respiratory distress, and cardiac arrest in the emergency department.
Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a single-day Point of Care Ultrasonographic Life Sup-
port in Emergency (PULSE) training workshop in October 2021 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
A total of 32 participants attended the course, including twenty-one junior residents (PGY 1 and 2) and medical offic-
ers with experience of fewer than two years working in different emergency departments of urban tertiary care hospi-
tals across Karachi, Pakistan. Pre- and post-assessment tools comprised a written examination, evaluating participants’
knowledge and skills in ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation. Cronbach’s alpha was used to calculate
the validity of the tool. Results obtained before and after the training session were compared by the McNemar’s test.
A p value of≤0.05 was considered significant.
Results There was a significant improvement in response to each question pre to post-test after completion
of the course (Table 1). The significant change can be seen in questions 7, 8, 13, and 15, with a percentage change
of 33.3, 80.9, 42.9, and 47.7. There was a significant improvement in the understanding and knowledge of participants
after the training. The scores in the post-test were high compared to the pre-test in each category, i.e., respiratory distress
(p<0.017), cardiac arrest (p<0.041), basic ultrasound knowledge (p<0.001), and undifferentiated shock (p<0.001).
Conclusion All participants showed improvement in their knowledge and confidence regarding using PoCUS in life-
threatening conditions. Through this study, we have also developed an algorithmic approach to managing undif-
ferentiated shock, respiratory failure, and cardiac arrest. Future studies must assess the effectiveness and feasibility
of incorporating these algorithms into clinical practice.
Keywords Point of care, Ultrasound, Life support, Emergency
Creator
Noman Ali1*, Abdul Ahad Chhotani1
, Sannia Perwaiz Iqbal2
, Salman Muhammad Soomar1
,
Ahmed Raheem1 and Shahan Waheed1
, Sannia Perwaiz Iqbal2
, Salman Muhammad Soomar1
,
Ahmed Raheem1 and Shahan Waheed1
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00525-w
Date
2023
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Noman Ali1*, Abdul Ahad Chhotani1
, Sannia Perwaiz Iqbal2
, Salman Muhammad Soomar1
,
Ahmed Raheem1 and Shahan Waheed1, “Point of Care Ultrasonographic Life Support in Emergency (PULSE)—a quasi‐experimental study,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12183.