title: WFUMB Position Paper. Learning Gastrointestinal Ultrasound: Theory and Practice.
abstract: Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is an ultrasound application that has been practiced for more than 30 years. Recently, GIUS has enjoyed a resurgence of interest, and there is now strong evidence of its utility and accuracy as a diagnostic tool for multiple indications. The method of learning GIUS is not standardised and may incorporate mentorship, didactic teaching and e-learning. Simulation, using either low- or high-fidelity models, can also play a key role in practicing and honing novice GIUS skills. A course for training as well as establishing and evaluating competency in GIUS is proposed in the manuscript, based on established learning theory practice. We describe the broad utility of GIUS in clinical medicine, including a review of the literature and existing meta-analyses. Further, the manuscript calls for agreement on international standards regarding education, training and indications.
authors.affiliation: Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Nathan S S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Ambulanzzentrum Gastroenterologie, Klinikum Lüneburg, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maaser
authors.affiliation: Stadtisches Klinikum Luneburg gGmbH, Department of Gastroenterology, Lüneburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kucharzik
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Alfred Hospital, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Asthana
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. Department of Emergency Medicine, Piedmont Hospital Newnan, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaivas
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goudie
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Ultrasound in Gastroenterology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Odd Helge
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Gilja
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Ultrasound Section, Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Surgery, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nolsøe
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nürnberg
authors.affiliation: Med. Klinik 2, Caritas-Krankenhaus, Bad Mergentheim, Germany. Electronic address: christoph.dietrich@ckbm.de.
authors.forename: Christoph F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000193:education*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; Intestinal; Learning curve; Point-of-care ultrasound; Ultrasound