title: Use of ultrasound for non-trauma patients in the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the past decade, there has been substantial knowledge translation in the use of ultrasound (US) by critical care physicians to aid diagnosis of the non-trauma patient. This study aimed to determine emergency doctors' level of training in ultrasonography, pattern of US use in regular practice and barriers to US use for the non-trauma patient presenting to an emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey on the use of US in non-trauma patients was conducted, targeting all emergency physicians and emergency medicine trainees in a single adult tertiary referral centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 92.7% with 38 completed surveys analysed. A course in non-trauma US had been completed by 58% of respondents. The most common non-trauma formal US training was in vascular access (82%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 66.8-90.6), detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm (79%, 95% CI 63.7-88.9) and pericardial fluid (84%, 95% CI 69.6-92.6). Upon completion of formal training, US was used significantly more frequently for obtaining vascular access (odds ratio [OR] 12.0), detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms (OR 4.3) and detection of pericardial fluid (OR 15.5). Most doctors felt the greatest barriers to the use of US in the non-trauma patient were the lack of teaching, confidence in findings, experienced supervisors and time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among ED personnel, use of US to diagnose several non-traumatic conditions was low, but specific training was associated with significantly more US use. Increased training and availability of US-experienced supervisors might further improve utility of this important adjunct to the practice of emergency medicine.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Trauma Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. amaalilokuge@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Amaali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lokuge
authors.forename: Biswadev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bystrzycki
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*