Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Timely access to diagnostic and imaging studies can be particularly challenging in resource-limited settings. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers a portable and cost effective solution for bed-side imaging to complement physical exams and aid diagnosis. As there’s limited data on whether there is a need for POCUS in Northern Ethiopia, the goal of this project is to assess the needs for a tailored POCUS curriculum for the local physicians working in university hospitals of Gondar and Mekelle.
METHOD:
We conducted qualitative interviews online as well as a cross-sectional POCUS survey to assess the needs for a tailored POCUS curriculum. Our participants are residents and senior physicians of the Internal Medicine department who were asked to provide information on their work environment, their understanding of POCUS, whether there is a need for a POCUS curriculum as well as any foreseeable challenges.
RESULT:
The result of this assessment has shown a 100% positive response (n=6) on the needs for a tailored POCUS curriculum. Also, we have identified several components to be included in the tailored POCUS curriculum, as well as that the residents are the primary stakeholders who may take on the task of teaching in a sustainable set-up of the POCUS curriculum.
CONCLUSION:
This is the first time a needs assessment has been done in the two university affiliated hospitals of Gondar and Mekelle in Northern Ethiopia. We have identified a strong need for a tailored POCUS curriculum, which will guide our next steps of designing and implementing it in the near future.
