Table 1 Training Program
Formal classroom lesson | Duration 40 min Timing Repeated weekly (4 times in a month) to allow all the trainees to attend at least once. Aims Showing and highlighting the advantages of using RUS vs traditional chest radiography for UVC insertion and localization, according to literature. Teaching how to perform an US-guided UVC placement. Materials and Methods Case reports and images from literature and clinical practice on correct and incorrect UVC positions. Images and descriptions of all the potential complication of a malpositioned UVC. Images and US scans of anatomic and vascular structures to be identified for the procedure. US scans (images and videos) of UVC in correct or incorrect positions. Description, images and videos of how to perform the complete US-guided UVC positioning procedure. |
Bedside US practise | Timing After each frontal lesson and anytime trainees were interested in practising US on babies with an UVC in the correct position, only when in good and stable conditions (parental written consent was previously obtained) Aims Showing how to set the bedside US and the correct probe. Teaching how to identify anatomic and vascular structures and the catheter tip position in babies with an UVC in a good position (parental consent was previously obtained). Methods The Echo-team member assisted as a direct supervisor a trainee while performing the scans. |
Bedside teaching | Timing Every time (daytime) an UVC was placed during the training period Aim Teaching how to perform a complete US-guided UVC placement Methods The Echo-team member performed the RUS or assisted as a supervisor a trainee in the US-guided UVC placement. |
Informative teaching material | Aim Improving access to the training program and contents and support the learning. Materials and Methods Posters containing description and illustrations of the entire procedure were posted on walls in each ward and pocket cards were available for all the trainees. They explained how to set the US machine, which probe to use, where to find all the materials, how to set the sterile field with the probe. The complete sequence of the US-guided UVC placement was described and explanatory images showed. |
Weekly surveys | Aim Improving or changing some aspects of the training. Materials and Methods Written questionnaires or talk with a Echo-team member through which the trainees were frequently encouraged to express their approval or concerns. |