title: Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in Japan: a survey of practicing rheumatologists.
abstract: We aimed to describe how often Japanese rheumatologists currently use musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), and how they are currently being trained in the use of this imaging technique. Questionnaires were sent to 200 Japanese rheumatologists: 100 to participants attending the first Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Imaging in Rheumatic Diseases in 2006, and 100 to other randomly selected rheumatologists certified by the Japan College of Rheumatology. A total of 139 questionnaires (74 from meeting participants, 65 from randomly selected rheumatologists) were completed and analyzed. Twenty-four of the 74 respondents (32.4%) in the meeting participants group used MSUS imaging for patient management, while only 7 of the 65 respondents (10.8%) in the certified rheumatologists group used MSUS imaging for patient management. Sixty-five of the 74 respondents (87.8%) in the meeting participants group and 54 of the 65 respondents (83.1%) in the certified rheumatologists group considered MSUS to be a useful tool. Only a minority of respondents used MSUS in the management of their patients. Lack of training in MSUS was the principal reason for not performing MSUS. Japanese rheumatologists would prefer future training in the form of intensive courses and training sessions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takase
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Haruko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ideguchi
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeno
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishigatsubo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002568:Certification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult