title: Practice of ultrasound-guided arthrocentesis and joint injection, including training and implementation, in Europe: results of a survey of experts and scientific societies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the practice and training opportunities of US-guided arthrocentesis and joint injection (UGAJ) among rheumatologists in the member countries of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  An English-language questionnaire, containing questions on demographics, clinical and practical aspects of UGAJ, training options in UGAJ for rheumatologists, UGAJ education in the rheumatology training curriculum and other structured education programmes in UGAJ was sent 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 (EFSUMB); and (iii) 22 senior rheumatologists involved in EULAR musculoskeletal US training from 14 European countries, who were also asked to circulate the questionnaire among relevant colleagues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three (75%) of 44 countries responded to the questionnaire (61.3% of national rheumatology societies, 25% of the national US societies and 100% of expert ultrasonographers). In the majority of countries (85%) <10% of rheumatologists routinely perform UGAJ in clinical practice, while the remaining countries (15%) reported a rate of 10-50%. The percentage of rheumatologists receiving training in UGAJ was <10% in the majority (72.7%) of countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the relatively low prevalence of UGAJ as compared with the high (>80%) rate of rheumatologists performing conventional joint injection in most of the surveyed countries. The reported variations in practice and the lack of available structured training programmes for trainees in most countries indicates the need for standardization in areas including training guidelines.
authors: 3rd Department of Rheumatology, National Institute of Rheumatologyand Physiotherapy, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Mandl
authors: Esperanza
authors: E
authors: Naredo
authors: Philip G
authors: PG
authors: Conaghan
authors: Maria-Antonietta
authors: MA
authors: D'Agostino
authors: Richard J
authors: RJ
authors: Wakefield
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Bachta
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Backhaus
authors: Hilde B
authors: HB
authors: Hammer
authors: George A W
authors: GA
authors: Bruyn
authors: Nemanja
authors: N
authors: Damjanov
authors: Emilio
authors: E
authors: Filippucci
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Grassi
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Iagnocco
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Jousse-Joulin
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Kane
authors: Juhani M
authors: JM
authors: Koski
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Möller
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: De Miguel
authors: Wolfgang A
authors: WA
authors: Schmidt
authors: Wijnand A A
authors: WA
authors: Swen
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Szkudlarek
authors: Lene
authors: L
authors: Terslev
authors: Hans-Rudolf
authors: HR
authors: Ziswiler
authors: Mikkel
authors: M
authors: Ostergaard
authors: Peter V
authors: PV
authors: Balint
mesh_terms: D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D019152:Paracentesis / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*