Lung Ultrasound in Respiratory Therapy: A Pre- and Post-Training Analysis

Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a bedside diagnostic tool to assess the pulmonary status of patients in diverse scenarios of acute care and is typically performed and interpreted by physicians. Within the multidisciplinary group of clinicians, respiratory therapists (RTs) are considered to be one of the principal caregivers for patients who require comprehensive respiratory support. However, the practice and use of LUS by RTs over other healthcare professionals is still in its infancy. Hence this study aimed to look at the outcome of a 2-day training offered to RTs in terms of their acquired knowledge and practical skill. Methodology: This is a pilot study of a doctoral thesis that explores the scope of LUS in the respiratory therapy profession. The study was designed with a pre and posttraining analysis to determine the effectiveness of the skillset of RTs before and after training. The RTs were selected based on their participation consent, and the training was approved by the Department of Allied Health (respiratory therapy), Sidra Medicine, Qatar. The training program included didactic theory sessions and application sessions for 16 hours (2 days). The sociodemographic data was measured, and the analysis was based on a questionnaire, which measures the techniques and terminologies of LUS and its clinical applications. In addition, the competency of the RTs was determined, and a comparative study was done with their different levels of educational qualifications and years of experience. Results: The demographic data revealed the age, gender, educational qualification, and years of experience of the RTs. The pretest results showed that only five out of 24 participants (21%) scored >60%, whereas, in the posttest, it was observed that 23 out of 24 (96%) scored >60% of the total score, reflecting the importance of didactic theory sessions and practical sessions. The competency results revealed that even RTs who had >10 years of experience also needed some ongoing education and training periodically, as few of them failed to identify the clinical signs. This study indicates that irrespective of educational qualification and years of experience; RTs require continuing education, periodic assessment, and hands- on training sessions to upgrade their skill set in performing LUS. Conclusion: We conclude that our study has proven to be beneficial in terms of the knowledge and skills attained by RTs on LUS. Acquiring such skills sets a benchmark in the current practice of RTs, and this may reduce adverse events, specifically in ventilated patients, leading to improved patient care and safety.