title: Current state of musculoskeletal ultrasound training and implementation in Europe: results of a survey of experts and scientific societies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the current state of musculoskeletal US (MSUS) training and extent of implementation among rheumatologists in the member countries of EULAR.
  
  
  METHODS
  An English-language questionnaire, divided into five sections (demographics, clinical use of MSUS, overall MSUS training for rheumatologists, MSUS education in the rheumatology training curriculum and education in MSUS offered by the national rheumatology society) was sent by e-mail to three different groups: (i) all national rheumatology societies of EULAR; (ii) all national societies of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology; and (iii) 19 senior rheumatologists involved in MSUS training from 14 European countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one (70.5%) out of 44 countries responded to the questionnaire (59.1% of national rheumatology societies, 34.5% of the national US societies and 100% of expert ultrasonographers). Rheumatology was listed among medical specialties that mainly perform MSUS in 20 (64.5%) countries; however, in most [19 (63.3%)] countries<10% of rheumatologists routinely perform MSUS in clinical practice. Training varies widely from country to country, with low rates of competency assessment. MSUS education is part of the rheumatology training curriculum in over half the surveyed countries, being compulsory in 7 (22.6%) countries and optional in 11 (35.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the high uptake of MSUS across Europe. The reported variation in training and practice between countries suggests a need for standardization in areas including training guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain. enaredo@ser.es
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naredo
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Conaghan
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Backhaus
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balint
authors.forename: George A W
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bruyn
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filippucci
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Hilde B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iagnocco
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Juhani M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Koski
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szkudlarek
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terslev
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wakefield
authors.forename: Hans-Rudolf
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ziswiler
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education*; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards