Evaluating the East African Point-of-Care Ultrasound (E-POCUS) Training Program Pilot: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Background: There is a pressing need for a sustainable, longitudinal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) education model that is contextually relevant, locally led, and systematically evaluated in East Africa. The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration in Emergency Medicine (TAAAC-EM), a long-standing partnership between the University of Toronto and Addis Ababa University, developed the East African POCUS (E-POCUS) Training Program Pilot. This was a one-year, longitudinal, hybrid advanced training program tailored to local needs and interests. Methods: We used reflexive thematic analysis to conduct a qualitative program evaluation of the E-POCUS training program pilot. E-POCUS participants, staff involved with the execution of the training program, and those participants who had to leave the program were all invited to participate in a semi-structured virtual interview, exploring their perceived impact and opinion of the E-POCUS program. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework. Results: A total of 13 interviews were conducted, representing participants in the E-POCUS program (n = 2), former participants of the E-POCUS program (n = 3), and staff involved in the teaching of the program (n = 8). The analysis highlighted three main themes: 1) time as a limiting factor, 2) expectations versus reality in program delivery, and 3) motivations for participation and the role of accreditation. Conclusion: This study highlighted the value of flexible, longitudinal, and hybrid curriculums in POCUS education. The E-POCUS pilot also illustrated that the hybrid model of education allowed participants to prioritize hands-on skill development teaching during in-person months. Advancing POCUS education in resource-limited settings is critical to improving patient care, and it is important to evaluate efforts at increasing access and education on the topics that are most relevant to their patient population.