Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) recommendations and guidelines for musculoskeletal ultrasound training in the Americas for rheumatologists.
OBJECTIVE
To develop guidelines for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (MSKUS) training for rheumatologists in the Americas.


METHODS
A total of 25 Rheumatologists from 19 countries of the American Continent participated in a consensus-based interactive process (Delphi method) using 2 consecutive electronic questionnaires. The first questionnaire included the following: the relevance of organizing courses to teach MSKUS to Rheumatologists, the determination of the most effective educational course models, the trainee levels, the educational objectives, the requirements for passing the course(s), the course venues, the number of course participants per instructor, and the percentage of time spent in hands-on sessions. The second questionnaire consisted of questions that did not achieve consensus (>65%) in the first questionnaire, topics, and pathologies to be covered at each course MSKUS level.


RESULTS
General consensus was obtained for MSKUS courses to be divided into 3 educational levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. These courses should be taught using a theoretical-didactic and hands-on model. In addition, the group established the minimum requirements for attending and passing each MSKUS course level, the ideal number of course participants per instructor (4 participants/instructor), and the specific topics and musculoskeletal pathologies to be covered. In the same manner, the group concluded that 60% to 70% of course time should be focused on hands-on sessions.


CONCLUSIONS
A multinational group of MSKUS sonographers using a consensus-based questionnaire (Delphi method) established the first recommendations and guidelines for MSKUS course training in the Americas. Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology urges that these guidelines and recommendations be adopted in the future by both national and regional institutions in the American continent involved in the training of Rheumatologists for the performance of MSKUS.
Pineda
Carlos
C
Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Mexico City, Mexico, DF, Mexico. carpineda@yahoo.com
Reginato
Anthony M
AM
Flores
Víctor
V
Aliste
Marta
M
Alva
Magaly
M
Aragón-Laínez
Raúl Antonio
RA
González
Araceli Bernal
AB
Bouffard
José Antonio
JA
Caballero-Uribe
Carlo Vinicio
CV
Chávez-López
Mario
M
Chávez-Pérez
Nilmo Noel
NN
Collado
Paz
P
Díaz-Coto
José Francisco
JF
Duarte
Margarita
M
Filippucci
Emilio
E
Galarza-Maldonado
Claudio
C
García-Kutzbach
Abraham
A
Godoy
Francisco Javier
FJ
González-Sevillano
Edgardo
E
Da Silveira
Inês Guimarães
IG
Gutiérrez
Marwin
M
Hernández-Díaz
Cristina
C
Hernández
Jaime
J
Lamuño-Encorrada
Montserrat
M
Marcos
Juan Carlos
JC
Marín-Arriaga
Norma
N
Mendonça
José Alexandre
JA
Michaud
Johan
J
Moya
Carlos
C
Muñoz-Louis
Roberto
R
Neubarth
Fernando
F
Quintero
Maritza
M
Reyes
Benjamín
B
Ruta
Santiago
S
Rodríguez-Henríquez
Pedro J
PJ
Solano
Carla
C
Ventura-Ríos
Lucio
L
Möller
Ingrid
I
Naredo
Esperanza
E
D000569:Americas; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards*