Formal Training Facilitates Innovation Adoption and Competency in Point-of-Care Ultrasonography Among Emergency Department Practitioners

Abstract

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether formal training in point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) significantly influenced innovation adoption, and competency by a cohort of emergency department (ED) practitioners, in the southwestern United States.

Materials and Methods:

There main variables were identified to gather data on formal training, innovation adoption, and competency therefore corresponding assessment tools were needed: Training Survey for Kirkpatrick Model, Survey of Technology Use, and the Ultrasound Competency Assessment Tool. The study gathered data to address two research questions: To what extent does formal training significantly predict POCUS innovation adoption for ED practitioners? To what extent does formal training significantly predict POCUS competency for ED practitioners? Data were collected anonymously via an online survey from 132 participants.

Results:

The results from this cohort were produced with simple linear regression analysis. It found that formal training was a statistically significant strong predictor of innovation adoption, R² = .559, adj. R² = .556, F(1, 130) = 164.794, p < .001; B = .745, β = .748, t = 12.80, p < .001. Competency assessment had and a significant lack of prediction, R² = .085, adj. R² = .078, F(1, 130) = 12.142, p < .001; B =.147, β = .292, t = 4.48, p < .001.

Conclusion:

These findings may be directly relevant to clinical practice. They support the efficacy of formal training of POCUS for ED practitioners and justify systematic delivery of such training.