Competencies required by sonographers teaching ultrasound interprofessionally: a Delphi consensus study.

Background: Clinicians from multiple professional backgrounds are increasingly using point-of-care ultrasound in clinical practice. Performing ultrasound is a complex skill, and training is required to ensure competency and patient safety. There is a lack of skilled trainers within health professions to meet this increasing educational demand.

Screening Accuracy for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip by Child Health Nurses.

Background: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) describes a spectrum of abnormalities that impact the normal function of the joint. These abnormalities are detectable during infancy using physical assessment, universal ultrasound, or a combination of both. In Australia, child health nurses predominantly screen for this disease using physical assessment.

Cultivating Competency in Cardiac Sonography: Aligning Entrustable Professional Activities With Industry Expectations.

Background & Aim: Echocardiography education involves the teaching and assessment of multiple competencies to ensure work-ready graduates. To connect these competency standards to professional practice, it is important that the industry expectation around specific entrustable professional activities (EPAs) is determined. In Australia, echocardiography examinations are eligible for Medicare reimbursement when performed by sonographers listed on the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR), either as an Accredited Medical Sonographer or as an Accredited Student Sonographer.

Evaluation of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) training on arteriovenous access assessment and cannula placement for haemodialysis.

Background: Haemodialysis requires a permanent vascular access and relies on cannulation with two large bore needles. Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a tool that may assist nursing staff with visualising cannula placement and prevent miscannulation. This can be particularly useful in regional hospitals with limited access to vascular access specialists.

Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: a systematic review.

Unlabelled: There is a growing need for interventions to improve well-being in healthcare workers, particularly since the onset of COVID-19.

Objectives: To synthesise evidence since 2015 on the impact of interventions designed to address well-being and burnout in physicians, nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

Design: Systematic literature review.

Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia - Industry perceptions.

Introduction: Linking individual competencies to entrustable professional tasks provides a holistic view of Sonography graduate work readiness. The Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) publishes a set of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as part of its Standards for Accreditation of Sonography Courses. EPAs are distinct ultrasound examinations grouped within six critical practice units.

Australasian sonographers' knowledge, awareness, and attitudes towards the international evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Introduction/purpose: Many guidelines have been utilised to diagnose polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The most recent are the International Evidence Based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome 2018 (2018 IEBG). This study aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitudes of Australasian sonographers' regarding these guidelines.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Educational Development in Australasia: A Scoping Review.

Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) technology is evolving rapidly and is being adopted by many health professionals in their clinical practice. Ultrasound is a complex skill requiring dedicated training. Appropriate integration of ultrasound education into medical, surgical, nursing and allied health professions is a current challenge worldwide.

What Is the Optimal Time on a Low-Calorie Diet Prior to Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery? A Prospective Case-Controlled Study.

Introduction: A very low-calorie diet (VLCD) or low-calorie diet (LCD) is often used prior to laparoscopic surgery to optimize access to the hiatus. Much debate exists in the literature regarding the required duration for a VLCD or LCD, and how to evaluate the presence of a fatty liver. The aim of our study was to determine the optimal amount of time on an LCD to achieve maximal liver volume reduction, and to assess the accuracy of the InBody 230® vs.

What is the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound for endometriosis mapping prior to surgery when performed by a sonographer within an outpatient women's imaging centre?

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) for the mapping of endometriosis before surgery when performed by sonographers in an outpatient women's imaging centre.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal cohort study was performed. The study group comprised of 201 women who underwent a comprehensive TVUS assessment, performed by a sonographer.

Nurses assessment of development hip dysplasia: A scoping review.

Developmental hip dysplasia is an abnormality of the hip joint which is associated with an unstable or dislocatable hip. During infancy, hips should be screened to determine whether they are stable, unstable or dislocated. In Australia, this screening is often performed by nurses using physical assessment.

Development of a professional competency framework for Australian sonographers-perspectives for developing competencies using a Delphi methodology.

Background: Professional competencies are important for enhancing alignment between the needs of education, industry and health consumers, whilst describing public expectations around health professionals. The development of competency standards for the sonography profession defines the behaviours, skills and knowledge sonographers should demonstrate for each learning and experience level.

Objective: The objective of this project was to develop a set of professional competency standards for the sonography profession which described in depth the behaviours, skills and knowledge sonographers should demonstrate across multiple learning and experience levels.

How long does a transvaginal ultrasound examination for endometriosis take in comparison to a routine transvaginal ultrasound examination?

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the additional time needed to perform an endometriosis transvaginal ultrasound (eTVUS) compared to routine transvaginal ultrasound (rTVUS).

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed. The study group included 199 eTVUS performed between September 2019 and September 2020.

The initial impact of COVID-19 on Australasian sonographers part 3: Sonographer professional, personal, and social wellbeing.

Introduction: The wellbeing of front-line healthcare workers can be impacted during a pandemic. This paper reports the initial impact on the wellbeing of COVID-19 on Australasian sonographers.

Methods: An online qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted between March and June 2020 to explore the wellbeing of Australasian sonographers in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initial impact of COVID-19 on Australasian sonographers part 2: Changes to sonographic examination protocols and access to personal protective equipment.

Introduction: COVID-19 brought with it the requirement for healthcare workers to limit community transmission of the virus as much as possible by limiting patient contact and wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This study aimed to capture the initial adaptations to sonographic examination protocols within ultrasound departments and sonographer access to PPE.

Methods: An online survey was used to gather data on sonographer reflections of sonographic examination protocol changes seen in their departments and access to PPE between the 11th of March 2020 and the 14th of June 2020.

The initial impact of COVID-19 on Australasian Sonographers Part 1: Changes in scan numbers and sonographer work hours.

Introduction: COVID-19 has seen a series of lockdowns and suspension on non-urgent elective surgeries. Subsequently, there was a drop in the number of diagnostic imaging services billed in April, May, 2020. A survey was undertaken from March to June 2020 to determine the initial impact of COVID-19 on Australasian Sonographers.

Catheter to vein ratio and risk of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-associated thrombosis according to diagnostic group: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Determine the effect of the catheter to vein ratio (CVR) on rates of symptomatic thrombosis in individuals with a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) and identify the optimal CVR cut-off point according to diagnostic group.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: 4 tertiary hospitals in Australia and New Zealand.

"Outcomes of arteriovenous fistulae cannulation in the first 6 weeks of use: A retrospective multicenter observational study".

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) management for haemodialysis (HD) is one of the most challenging aspects of clinical care. A successful cannulation outcome when an AVF or arteriovenous graft (AVG) is used for the first time can be influenced by many factors, including access maturity, staff skill, and patient factors. This study examined AVF/AVG outcomes at initiation of HD across two major metropolitan public hospitals.

Ultrasound parameters to identify and diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. A review of the literature.

Numerous works of literature have assessed the use of ultrasound to detect carpal tunnel syndrome, suggesting various techniques and cut-off values. Currently, an effective parameter and cut-off value are still debated. The aim of this review is to determine if these parameters have sufficient rigour to allow their use in clinical practice.

Current Status of Transvaginal Ultrasound Accuracy in the Diagnosis of Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis Before Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Endometriosis is a common gynecologic condition affecting as many as 1 per 10 women. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) has become a frontline tool in the diagnosis of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) before surgery. The primary aim of this review was to determine the accuracy of TVUS for DIE.

Cannulation practices at haemodialysis initiation via an arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft.

Introduction: A functioning long-term vascular access is required for haemodialysis therapy; however, establishing this can be challenging in the setting of advanced age and vessels damaged by diabetes. Complications include the inability to insert two needles for the treatment resulting in miscannulation trauma and in some cases insertion of a temporary central venous access device. The broad objective of this review is to define the evidence base regarding cannulation practices in the initiation of haemodialysis via an arteriovenous fistula or an arteriovenous graft.

Are Ultrasound Measurements of Achilles Tendon Size Reliable? A Systematic Review of Rater Reliability.

Ultrasound measurements of Achilles tendon size are used to assess the tendon's response to exercise, aging, rehabilitation, tendon loading and healing. It is important to understand and minimise the measurement error that occurs with these measurements. This review identified and synthesised studies reporting on intra- and inter-rater reliability of ultrasound measurements of Achilles tendon size.

The effect of oral hydration and localised heat on peripheral vein diameter and depth: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Accessing the peripheral veins for blood sampling and short-term peripheral intravenous catheter insertion is common in contemporary healthcare. Clinicians may apply heat or promote oral hydration to increase vein diameter and reveal veins to improve success rates. However, there is limited research that has examined the effect of these interventions on vein diameter and depth.

Measurement of Vein Diameter for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Insertion: An Observational Study.

Choosing an appropriately sized vein reduces the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with peripherally inserted central catheters. This observational study described the diameters of the brachial, basilic, and cephalic veins and determined the effect of patient factors on vein size. Ultrasound was used to measure the veins of 176 participants.