Certification Standards and Diagnostic Accuracy for Surgeon-performed Ultrasonography

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Ultrasonography (US) is an operator depended image modality that is difficult to reproduce and interpret by others. Competence of the US operator is crucial for reliable diagnostics but no evidence-based certification of head and neck US skills has been developed. Investigators conducted an experimental study aimed to explore diagnostic accuracy and establish validity evidence for certification standards in surgeon-performed ultrasonography.

Official Title
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Certification Standards and Diagnostic Accuracy for Surgeon-performed Ultrasonography

Conditions
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Ultrasonography Skills

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Measurement of competence


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Ultrasonography-experienced surgeons Inclusion Criteria: Board certified otolaryngologist Daily use of head and neck Ultrasonography Ultrasonography novices: Inclusion Criteria: Medical doctor during internship Exclusion Criteria: experience with head and neck Ultrasonography experience with head and neck surgery

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 26 Years
Maximum Age: 48 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: Ultrasonography-experienced surgeons<br>Attending physicians and consultants in head and neck surgery using head and neck Ultrasonography on a daily basis. | Other: Measurement of competence<br>* This study is a psychometric validation of a generic assessment tool to evaluate ultrasonography competence among surgeons<br>|
| Other: Ultrasonography novices<br>Physicians participating in their one-year internship at other surgical or medical departments with no experience with head and neck US or head and neck surgery. | Other: Measurement of competence<br>* This study is a psychometric validation of a generic assessment tool to evaluate ultrasonography competence among surgeons<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Competence score on a generic skills assessment scale (The Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS)) | Performance were video-recorded Maj 25, 2013 and afterwards assessed by a consultant in diagnostic radiology and a consultant in head and neck surgery | up to 24 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diagnostic accuracy assessed by a head and neck surgeon reading the ultrasonography report | Assessed by a head and neck surgeon reading the ultrasonography report of the participating physicians from the experimental study conducted Maj 25, 2013 | up to 24 months |