Gastric Ultrasound Education: Participant Survey Data from a Statewide Gastric POCUS Workshop

Abstract

Objectives POCUS education has grown significantly in the past two decades, impacting various medical specialties. This study aimed to assess practicing anaesthesiologist’s confidence, knowledge, and skill in performing gastric POCUS before and after a focused workshop that used deliberate practice. Methods Attendees of the 2024 Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting participated in an included hands-on gastric point-of-care ultrasound workshop. The workshop included 10 stations, each with a standardized patient model and anaesthesiologists competent in gastric ultrasound to offer immediate feedback and assistance in obtaining images. Standardized patient models were either Nil oral or had clear liquids or normal meal. Participants rotated through all 10 standardized patients and faculty, performing deliberate practice, and completed pre- and post-workshop surveys to assess their knowledge and confidence with gastric ultrasound with questions using a 5-point Likert scale. The post-workshop survey also tested participant’s ability to correctly identify structures on classic gastric ultrasound images. This study is a prospective analysis of pre- and post-workshop survey data. Data was analysed using two-tailed Fisher's exact tests, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results 37 participants completed the pre-workshop survey, and 25 completed the post-workshop survey. Statistically significant differences were found in physicians' confidence in obtaining gastric images (p<0.0001), interpreting gastric ultrasound (p<0.0001), and confidence in incorporating gastric POCUS into practice (p=0.0003) [Fig. 1]. No significant difference was found in general POCUS confidence (p=0.5336). Discussion Prior studies implementing POCUS into medical education through standardized workshops have been shown to improve knowledge and POCUS comfort. In one study, implementation of a 6-hour-workshop with faculty showed increased confidence in teaching POCUS to medical students, a 36% increase in POCUS knowledge, and an increase in correct identification of anatomic structures1. Likewise, hands-on training and asynchronous online modules increased PGY-1 residents’ confidence in obtaining POCUS images, recognizing anatomical structures, and incorporating POCUS into clinical practice2. Our study reinforces these findings in the population of practicing anesthesiologists, with an emphasis on the use of gastric ultrasound. Gastric ultrasound can be a vital tool for anesthesiologists in determining an appropriate anesthesia induction and maintenance technique when a patient’s fasting status is uncertain3. The use of gastric ultrasound is increasingly relevant given recent conflicting recommendations between the ASA and AGA surrounding duration of fasting status before elective surgeries in patients on GLP-1 agonists.4 References

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