Effects of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Multidisciplinary Medical Wards
- Conditions
- Point-of-care Ultrasound
- Interventions
- Other: Point-of-Care Ultrasound
- Registration Number
- NCT06529315
- Lead Sponsor
- National Taiwan University Hospital
- Brief Summary
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.
- Detailed 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.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- NOT_YET_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 144
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Group PoCUS Point-of-Care Ultrasound 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.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Proportion of accurate diagnosis At 48 hours after admission to medical wards The proportion of accurate physician diagnosis achieved at 48 hours after admission to medical wards
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Hospital mortality Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days Rate of hospital mortality of the participants
Rate of ICU transfer Within 7 days after admission to medical wards Rate of participants requiring ICU care
Categories and numbers of imaging studies Within 7 days after admission to medical wards The requests for additional categories and numbers of imaging studies for the participants
Length of hospital stay Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days The length of hospital stay of the participants
Categories and numbers of invasive procedures Within 7 days after admission to medical wards Categories and numbers of invasive procedures required by the participants