Emergency physicians’ attitudes to implementing ultrasound in Dutch emergency departments after a 2‐day training: A qualitative study

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound is increasingly used by nonradiologists in trauma victims and critically ill patients. In the emergency department, the extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma and Polytrauma Rapid Echo‐evaluation Program protocol are often used to assess these patients. Dutch Polytrauma Rapid Echo‐evaluation Program‐trained Emergency physicians are implementing the use of ultrasound in the emergency department but might encounter barriers to overcome. Objectives: This study aims to explore individual experiences of Dutch emergency physicians. Methods: We performed a qualitative study by conducting semi‐structured interviews in Dutch emergency physicians working in a Level 2 emergency department that completed the 2‐day Polytrauma Rapid Echo‐evaluation Program course at least 1 year before the interviews. Data were analyzed using directed content analysis. Results: Eight emergency physicians employed by eight different hospitals were interviewed. Thirteen categories were identified in the transcribed interviews and these were combined into four general themes: (1) the desire to develop the Emergency Medicine specialty, both nationally and local; (2) incentives to start using ultrasound; (3) exploring practical applications of ultrasound; and (4) barriers faced while implementing emergency physician‐performed ultrasound on the emergency department. The interviewees regard the course to be a solid base and are eager to independently perform ultrasound examinations, although challenges are faced. Conclusion: This exploratory study provides essential insight in Dutch emergency physicians implementing ultrasound in their emergency department. It shows that there is a need to develop a quality assurance system and it identified barriers that have to be dealt with.