title: The Impact of Systematic Point-of-Care Ultrasound on Management of Patients in a Resource-Limited Setting.
abstract: Although target point-of-care (POC) ultrasonography has been shown to benefit patients in resource-limited settings, it is not clear whether a systematic POC ultrasound assessment in these settings can also lead to similar changes in patient management. A predefined systematic set of POC ultrasound scans were performed on inpatients at a tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania to see if this resulted in changes to patient management. Of the 55 patients scanned, an abnormality was detected in 75% (N= 41), and a change in patient management was recommended or implemented on the basis of POC ultrasound findings in 53% (N= 29). The main impact was earlier initiation of treatment due to more rapid and accurate diagnosis. Further research is warranted to determine whether systematic POC ultrasonography would result in improved patient outcomes in resource-limited settings.
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom. alastair.stanley@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Bahati M K
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wajanga
authors.affiliation: Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Mwanza, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Hyasinta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaka
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.|School of Medicine, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Purcell
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rypien
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Faustine
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tshepo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leeme
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mwabutwa
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: WellSpan York Hospital, York, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaminstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013636:Tanzania; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult