Current state of musculoskeletal ultrasound training and implementation in Europe: results of a survey of experts and scientific societies.
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.
Naredo
Esperanza
E
Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain. enaredo@ser.es
D'Agostino
Maria A
MA
Conaghan
Philip G
PG
Backhaus
Marina
M
Balint
Peter
P
Bruyn
George A W
GA
Filippucci
Emilio
E
Grassi
Walter
W
Hammer
Hilde B
HB
Iagnocco
Annamaria
A
Kane
David
D
Koski
Juhani M
JM
Szkudlarek
Marcin
M
Terslev
Lene
L
Wakefield
Richard J
RJ
Ziswiler
Hans-Rudolf
HR
Schmidt
Wolfgang A
WA
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