Not Just a Diagnostic Tool: A Qualitative Study Exploring How Patients Experience Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Acute Care.

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) is increasingly integrated into acute care for its diagnostic efficiency and accessibility. While prior studies associate PoCUS use with higher patient satisfaction, little is known about how patients themselves experience it as part of their care. To explore how patients experience PoCUS during acute care encounters and how it shapes their overall perception of care. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis within a constructivist paradigm. Eighteen adult patients who underwent PoCUS during emergency department or inpatient general internal medicine assessments at a tertiary care academic hospital in Ottawa, Canada. Participants were recruited and interviewed at the bedside shortly after receiving PoCUS examinations. Transcripts were inductively coded and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework for reflexive thematic analysis. Three interrelated themes captured how patients experienced PoCUS. First, PoCUS enhanced both emotional reassurance and physical convenience through real-time feedback and avoidance of transport to diagnostic areas. Second, patients perceived PoCUS as integrated within holistic, patient-centered care, where their impressions of PoCUS were intertwined with their impressions of the care they received overall. Third, patients' largely positive experiences were grounded in trust in their physicians despite and in the midst of limited technical understanding of PoCUS. Overall, patients had positive experience with PoCUS integration. With little technical knowledge of PoCUS, patients' positive views were shaped by trust and interaction with physicians. While supporting existing literature, our findings stress the need for clear communication and scope awareness. As PoCUS use increases in prevalence, it should be seen as both a diagnostic tool and a contributor to patient-centered care.