Recommended Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Applications for US Family Medicine Residency Training: A National Delphi Study From the STFM POCUS Task Force.

Abstract

Multiple organizations and accrediting bodies support or require teaching of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in US family medicine residency programs. To date, no evidence-based approach has been used to determine which of the numerous POCUS applications should be required components of curricula. A task force of expert POCUS educators sponsored by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine was formed to conduct research and draft guidelines addressing these gaps. We conducted a traditional three-round Delphi study with a national group of 25 expert panelists, all POCUS educators at US family medicine residency programs. Panelists were diverse in geographic location, practice setting, and scope of practice. A systematic literature search identified 243 potentially relevant clinical applications of POCUS. Surveys were administered to the panel with anchored Likert scale questions. Rounds were iterative and anonymous, with 80% agreement required for consensus. Clinical applications that did not meet consensus after three rounds were excluded. Three Delphi rounds were completed with a 100% response rate for each. Among the applications, 54 met positive consensus for inclusion, 41 met consensus for exclusion, and the remaining 162 were excluded for lack of consensus. US family medicine residency programs should prioritize these 54 consensus applications when structuring POCUS curricular implementation plans with a goal of facilitating graduating residents' competency in these clinical applications.