Evidence-based training and certification: the ERS thoracic ultrasound training programme
Pia Iben Pietersen,
Rahul Bhatnagar,
Najib M. Rahman,
Nick Maskell,
John M. Wrightson,
Jouke Annema,
Laurence Crombag,
Amy Farr,
Nathalie Tabin,
Marek Slavicky,
Søren Helbo Skaarup,
Lars Konge,
Christian B. Laursen
Affiliations
Pia Iben Pietersen
Department of Radiology, Odense University Hospital – Svendborg, UNIFY – Research and Innovation Unit of Radiology, Odense, Denmark
Rahul Bhatnagar
Academic Respiratory Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Najib M. Rahman
University of Oxford, Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Oxford, UK
Nick Maskell
Academic Respiratory Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
John M. Wrightson
Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
Jouke Annema
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Laurence Crombag
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amy Farr
Education Department, European Respiratory Society (ERS), Lausanne, Switzerland
Nathalie Tabin
Education Department, European Respiratory Society (ERS), Lausanne, Switzerland
Marek Slavicky
Education Department, European Respiratory Society (ERS), Lausanne, Switzerland
Søren Helbo Skaarup
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
Lars Konge
Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Centre for Human Resources and Education, The Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
Christian B. Laursen
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
Thoracic ultrasound has developed into an integral part of the respiratory physician's diagnostic and therapeutic toolbox, with high diagnostic accuracy for many diseases causing acute or chronic respiratory symptoms. However, it is vitally important that the operator has received the appropriate education and training to ensure a systematic and thorough examination, correct image interpretation, and that they then have the appropriate skills to integrate all the findings for patient benefit. In this review, we present the new European Respiratory Society thoracic ultrasound training programme, including a discussion of curriculum development, its implementation, and trainee evaluation. This programme enables participants to gain competence in thoracic ultrasound through structured, evidence-based training with robustly validated assessments and certification. The training programme consists of three components: an online, theoretical part (part 1), which is accessible all year; a practical course (part 2), with four courses held each year (two online courses and two on-site courses); and an examination (part 3) comprising an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), which is hosted each year at the European Respiratory Society Congress.
