The Development of a Validated Checklist for Ultrasound-Guided Thyroid Nodule Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsies Preliminary Results

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (USgFNA) is the procedure of choice for biopsy of thyroid nodules (TNs) that are suspicious for malignancy. Poor technique in performing this procedure can result in nondiagnostic specimens, increased patient anxiety, repeated aspirations, and unnecessary surgery. Validated checklists are a central component of teaching and assessing procedural skills. The results of the first step of the validation of a TN USgFNA checklist are described. A comprehensive review of articles published on TN fine-needle aspiration did not yield a validated checklist. A modified Delphi technique, involving a panel of 8 interdisciplinary experts, was used to develop a TN USgFNA checklist. The internal consistency coefficient using Cronbach alpha was 0.74. Development of the 23-item TN USgFNA checklist for teaching and assessing TN USgFNA is the first step in the validation process. Further validation can be achieved via implementation and study of the checklist in clinical settings.