title: Assessment of Paramedic Ultrasound Curricula: A Systematic Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prehospital ultrasound is being applied in the field. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe evidence pertaining to ultrasound curricula for paramedics specifically, including content, duration, setting, design, evaluation, and application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials were conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Primary literature describing acute care ultrasound curricula for paramedics were included. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed quality using 2 validated tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve studies with 187 paramedics were included. Curricula duration varied, with effective curricula teaching focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in 6 to 8 hours and pleural ultrasound in 25 minutes. FAST, pleural, and fracture-detection ultrasound are being applied in the field by paramedics; however, no literature exists describing application to detect cardiac standstill. Curricula combined didactic and hands-on components including simulation and evaluated competency using sensitivity and specificity of paramedic-performed ultrasound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paramedic ultrasound curricula in FAST and pleural ultrasound is feasible and time effective with successful application. Although fracture detection ultrasound is being used by the special operations forces, no comprehensive curriculum was described. Curricula designed to detect cardiac standstill have been too short, and successful application by paramedics has not been shown.
authors.affiliation: Student, University of British Columbia MD Undergraduate Program, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCallum
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Emergency Health Services, Provincial AirEvac & Critical Care Operations, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Division of Critical Care, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Division of Critical Care, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Division of Critical Care, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hussein D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Kanji
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D003479:Curriculum; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*