title: The creation of an objective assessment tool for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia using the Delphi method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The assessment of technical skills in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is currently subjective and relies largely on observations of the trainer. The objective of this study was to develop a checklist to assess training progress and to detect training gaps in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia using the Delphi method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 30-item checklist was developed and then e-mailed to 18 reviewers for feedback. The checklist was modified on the basis of their feedback. This process of iteration was repeated until no further feedback was received, and a consensus was reached on the final composition of the checklist. A global rating scale (GRS) was introduced as a result of the feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three rounds of feedback were required to reach consensus on the composition of the checklist and the GRS. The final checklist contains 22 items, and the GRS contains 9 categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the Delphi method, a checklist and GRS were developed. These tools can serve as an objective means of assessing progress in ultrasound technical skills acquisition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Holland Orthopedic and Arthritic Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J H
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Ewen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rosemin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Darani
authors.forename: Colin J L
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubrowski
authors.forename: Imad T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000592:standards*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057189:Checklist; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D032921:Consensus; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D059032:Learning Curve; D009048:Motor Skills; D009864:Ontario; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000592:standards; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local