Implementation of a Virtual Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum at Black Lion Hospital, Ethiopia

Introduction In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the availability of formal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training remains limited, and there is limited data on how to train providers in these countries to use POCUS. This study aimed to describe a virtual training workshop for physicians in Ethiopia, with the intention of serving as a model that could guide similar initiatives. Methods The authors developed and implemented a three-day virtual workshop in 2022 for physicians in the Department of Medicine at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. Participants in the workshop completed pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys, as well as knowledge assessments. The authors examined POCUS use prior to the workshop, the impact of the workshop on ratings of comfort level in performing POCUS, and the change in scores on a knowledge assessment before and after the workshop. Results We found that very few of the participants had prior formal POCUS training. Participants reported a significantly higher level of comfort in using POCUS for the assessment of patients (p < 0.001) and for procedural guidance (p < 0.001) after attending the workshop, compared to before. Scores on the post-test knowledge assessment were significantly higher than scores on the pre-test knowledge assessment (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our POCUS workshop was successfully implemented and delivered virtually to a group of physicians in Ethiopia, and it increased comfort levels in performing POCUS and POCUS knowledge. We hope that similar workshops can be implemented in other LMICs.