Effects of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Multidisciplinary Medical Wards

National Taiwan University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Point-of-care Ultrasound

Treatments: Other: Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06529315

202405109RINA

Details and patient eligibility

About

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside portable ultrasound technique utilized by healthcare providers to offer rapid and non-invasive diagnostic imaging. POCUS has proven particularly effective in critical care and emergency settings. However, its application in general medical wards, where patients often present with multiple comorbidities, remains under-researched. Additionally, the feasibility of nurse practitioners (NPs) performing POCUS is promising. Despite limited research on POCUS by less experienced operators, NP-conducted POCUS could provide timely, high-quality care, especially in situations with limited physician availability. The routine use of POCUS in patient admissions to medical wards may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic resource utilization, and shorten hospital stays.

Full description

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside portable ultrasound technique utilized by healthcare providers to offer rapid and non-invasive diagnostic imaging. This method significantly aids in diagnosis and treatment by enhancing accuracy, guiding treatment adjustments, aiding procedural interventions, and reducing the time to appropriate treatment, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. POCUS also decreases the reliance on other imaging modalities, providing real-time information and minimizing additional imaging needs.

POCUS has proven particularly effective in critical care and emergency settings. However, its application in general medical wards, where patients often present with multiple comorbidities, remains under-researched. The potential value of POCUS in these wards is notable, as it can facilitate early complication detection and timely treatment adjustments, reducing complication incidences.

Additionally, the feasibility of nurse practitioners (NPs) performing POCUS is promising. NPs, as frontline healthcare professionals, can use POCUS to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Despite limited research on POCUS by less experienced operators, NP-conducted POCUS could provide timely, high-quality care, especially in situations with limited physician availability. The routine use of POCUS in patient admissions to medical wards may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic resource utilization, and shorten hospital stays.

Enrollment: 144 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 120 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 18 years or older
2. Admitted directly from emergency department

Exclusion criteria

1. End-of-life care
2. Immediate need for life-support therapy or ICU transfer
3. Airborne isolation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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144 participants in 2 patient groups

Group PoCUS

Experimental group

Description:

Participants assigned to Group PoCUS will undergo point-of-care ultrasound evaluations by nurse practitioners/physicians within their first 24 hours of admission to the general ward.

Treatment:

Other: Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Group Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants assigned to Group Usual Care will receive usual standard care.