European Journal of Rheumatology
Original Article

Musculoskeletal Point-of-Care Ultrasonography Training Among Canadian Postgraduate Rheumatology Programs

1.

Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada

2.

Department of Rheumatology, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada

3.

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

4.

Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Ottawa, ON, Canada

5.

Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada

6.

FRCPC, Associate Prof, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Rheumatology, Ottawa, ON, Canada

7.

Departments of Medicine and Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Eur J Rheumatol 2023; 10: 8-11
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21081
Read: 709 Downloads: 422 Published: 01 January 2023

Objective: This study aimed to assess the current state of musculoskeletal point-of-care ultrasonography training among the rheumatology postgraduate programs in Canada and explored the interest in developing a national curriculum.

Method: A Canadian survey was developed by academic rheumatologists including point-of-care ultrasonography experts and point-of-care ultrasonography non-users. Across Canada, all 15 adult and 3 pediatric rheumatology English and French postgraduate programs were surveyed via Survey Monkey with a standardized questionnaire.

Results: The completed response rates were 27% (24/89) for postgraduate year-4 and -5 rheumatology trainees and 61% (11/18) for program directors. Forty-two percent (10/24) of trainees had access to formal point-of-care ultrasonography training, and 67% (16/24) had some form of informal nonstructured exposure. Of all respondents, 87.5% (21/24) trainees and 82% (9/11) program directors agreed or strongly agreed that point-of-care ultrasonography is an important clinical tool in rheumatology. Eighty-nine percent (8/9) of program directors felt that point-of-care ultrasonography should be a formal part of rheumatology training.

Conclusion: This national survey demonstrates that while musculoskeletal point-of-care ultrasonography is considered an important component of clinical practice, significant training barriers exist. The majority of both trainees and program directors felt that point-of-care ultrasonography should be a formal part of training and would be interested in a national standardized point-of-care ultrasonography curriculum in Canada.

Cite this article as: Tana T, Al Osaimi N, Gazel U, Roth J, Zehra Aydin S, Humphrey-Murto S. Musculoskeletal point-of-care ultrasonography training among canadian postgraduate rheumatology programs. Eur J Rheumatol. 2023;10(1):8–11.

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