Approach of family physicians to the use of ultrasonography in Türkiye

With the decreasing costs and increased accessibility of ultrasound devices, many specialties have begun implementing Point of Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) into their clinical practices and incorporating it into residency training programs. Family medicine is among these specialties. However, several challenges remain in the implementation of POCUS within family medicine. This study aims to evaluate ultrasonography training, willingness to utilize ultrasonography, and perceptions regarding ultrasonography among family physicians in Türkiye. In this descriptive study, an online survey via Google Forms was administered to family medicine residents and practicing family physicians. Participants were recruited using the snowball sampling method. Data collection took place from May to December 2024 through social media platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Data were collected from May 2024 to December 2024 and analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 30.0. A total of 516 family physicians participated in this study. Of the participants, 27(5.2%) had previously received ultrasonography training, while only 6(1.1%) had implemented ultrasonography in their clinical practice. Additionally, 411(79.6%) participants expressed interest in receiving ultrasonography training, and 337(65.3%) believed ultrasonography training was essential during residency. Only 14(2.3%) family physicians believed they had sufficient time to implement POCUS. The most frequently identified barrier to the implementation of POCUS was increased responsibility and additional workload. Very few participants had received formal ultrasonography training. The majority of our participants expressed a strong interest in receiving ultrasonography training and considered it essential for residency programs. We suggest that policymakers should address reimbursement issues, provision of equipment, and scheduling adjustments, as well as other challenges highlighted in this study, to enhance the utilization of POCUS.