Improving efficiency and decreasing scanning time of sonographic examination of the shoulder by using a poster illustrating proper shoulder positioning to the patient. Issue 7 (7th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Amit; Amin, Maslah; Srinivasan, Sriram; Botchu, Rajesh
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical ultrasound. Volume 43:Issue 7(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 417
• Page End: 420
• Publication Date: 2014-11-07
• Subjects: Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22253
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-2751

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="jcu22253-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>Patients often have difficulty performing the various movements required for ideal positioning to enable accurate sonographic (US) assessment of the shoulder; this may result from pain and or unclear oral instructions. We performed this study to ascertain whether the use of a poster depicting the positions required during the examination would decrease scanning time and hence improve the overall efficiency of shoulder US.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22253-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We retrospectively compared results from 50 consecutive patients who underwent US examination without (group 1) and 50 with (group 2) the use of an illustrative poster produced by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology. The difference in mean scanning time between the two groups was analyzed with Student's two‐tailed <italic>t</italic> test.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22253-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>There was a statistically significant difference in scanning time between the two groups (group 1: 3 minutes and 5 seconds versus group 2: 2 minutes and 9 seconds; <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001). The patients in group 2, especially those who had hearing difficulty, found the poster useful.</p> </sec> <sec id="jcu22253-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The use of a poster illustrating positioning of the shoulder during an US examination is an effective way to improve patient compliance and significantly decreases scanning time. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. <italic>J Clin Ultrasound</italic><bold>43</bold>:417–420, 2015</p> </sec> </abstract>