Importance Of Vascular Ultrasound For Vascular Surgical Practice: The Results Of An Online, Mixed-methods Survey Of Practicing Vascular Surgeons
Elizabeth Wooster, Varun Kapila, MD, Douglas L. Wooster, MD.
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Objectives: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of practicing vascular surgeons related to the role of vascular ultrasound (VUS).
Methods: A mixed methods survey was developed and distributed in an online format to the membership list of a national specialty society. Two separate reminders were sent to the mailing list at large over a two-month time period. Close-ended questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis was used for responses to open-ended questions.
Results: The response rate was 45%. 33% of respondents had been in practice for more than 20 years and 23% for less than 5 years. 52% of respondents worked in an academic hospital practice. 39% of respondents had no involvement in VUS facility, 42% acting as a reporting physician and 11% acting as reporting physician with management responsibilities. Only 39% of respondents had their RPVI credential. 96% of respondents agreed with the statement that high quality VUS improves patient care. 97% of respondents believed that VUS should be available to all vascular patients and all vascular specialties and that VUS is a requirement for a modern vascular practice. VUS is the primary modality of choice for abdominal aortic aneurysm (93%), peripheral vascular disease (79%), venous disease (90%), extracranial carotid artery disease (97%), and hemodialysis access planning (80%). Incomplete or poor quality VUS reports accompany over 50% of referrals to vascular surgeons. Thematic analysis of the open-ended questions revealed the following themes: access to and availability of VUS, quality of VUS and its impact on health care resource utilization, importance of the role of a vascular specialist, and the importance and prominence of the role of VUS in modern vascular practice.
Conclusion: The importance of the role of vascular ultrasound is widely understood by practicing vascular surgeons. However, there remains a spread in terms of the involvement of vascular surgeons within vascular ultrasound labs. Incomplete or poor-quality reports remain an issue when analyzing referrals to a vascular surgeon's office. The importance and issues related to vascular ultrasound need to be further understood and addressed to increase high quality patient care.
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