WIP 20 - Evaluating the Efficacy of a Novel Uniplanar Umbilical Venous Catheter POCUS Training Course in Neonatal Intensive Care Clinicians

Poster Number: WIP 20
Publication Number: WIP 20.2405

Background: The use of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) to determine the location of the umbilical venous catheter (UVC) tip is gaining momentum in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). This approach is fast, accurate and minimizes exposure to radiation. Therefore, it may potentially replace the traditional method of assessing the UVC tip using thoracic vertebral levels on anteroposterior chest and abdomen radiography. However, accuracy in POCUS assessment of UVC tip is operator dependent and neonatal healthcare providers at our institution lack formal training required to develop the skills for this procedure.

Objective: The objective of this study was to implement a formal POCUS course and evaluate the knowledge and skills gained by neonatal physicians (attendings and fellows) and nurse practitioners (NNPs) who completed the course.

Design/Methods: This prospective cohort study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. We developed a POCUS course which comprised a web based asynchronous knowledge module and five sessions of procedural skills training on POCUS technique for UVC tip assessment on admitted neonates.
Participants completed a pretest prior to and a posttest immediately after completing the knowledge module. A second posttest will be delivered after completing the procedural skills training. A Critical Action Checklist was used to determine competence in POCUS guided UVC tip location.

Results (Preliminary)
Twenty healthcare providers (Attendings - 4; Fellows - 5; NNPs - 11) are enrolled in this study. 55% of providers (N = 11) completed the pre/posttest associated with the knowledge module. Mean pre and posttest scores were 66.0% and 79.4% respectively, (p = 0.02).

64% of providers (N=7) completed at least one of five procedural training sessions. Critical Action Checklist scores ranged between 70%-85%. No provider has completed the second posttest.

Data collection and analysis is ongoing on this study.

Conclusion (Preliminary)
The web based asynchronous module increased immediate knowledge on POCUS technique for UVC tip placement.