Care and management of US ski and snowboard team athletes: implementation of the EFAST
Abstract Objective Assess the impact of a novel Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training for Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (EFAST) presented to US Ski and Snowboard (USSS) physicians at the Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding (MESS) course in January 2024 in Park...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Discover Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00497-4 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Abstract Objective Assess the impact of a novel Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training for Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (EFAST) presented to US Ski and Snowboard (USSS) physicians at the Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding (MESS) course in January 2024 in Park City, Utah. Methods Prospective cohort analysis of an EFAST training including a one-hour didactic session, 30-min hands-on scanning session, 30-min competition-style group and individual assessment. Pre- and post-training testing was administered to evaluate procedure proficiency and knowledge retention. Hands-on skills training utilized volunteer standardized patients with a variety of portable POCUS instruments. The effectiveness of the EFAST training modality was evaluated based upon pre- to post-training test scores. Results The cohort consisted of 62 physicians representing various specialties with a 65%, n = 40, response rate. Post-test scores showed a significant increase of 54% (p < 0.001). Self-rated ‘Novices’ in ultrasound experience had the greatest score increase (0.50 ± 0.31; p < 0.01), while self-rated ‘Experts’ had the smallest score increase (0.10 ± 0.14; p < 0.01). The majority (95%) of respondents reported that POCUS would be “Moderately to Very Beneficial” for emergency management of athletes in remote settings with prolonged transport times, and 80% either “Somewhat Agreed” or “Strongly Agreed” that POCUS would be a beneficial tool in the care of USSS athletes following the training. Conclusion These results suggest our novel training was effective at teaching physicians basic ultrasound utilization, the EFAST procedure, normal and pathologic ultrasound anatomy, and proper clinical decision-making based on findings. Participants believe POCUS would be a valuable tool for use in the emergency care and management of USSS athletes. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2731-5525 |