TY - JOUR
T1 - Organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories and governance of echocardiography services and training in Europe
T2 - current status, disparities, and potential solutions. A survey from the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) imaging working group
AU - Cantinotti, Massimiliano
AU - Voges, Inga
AU - Miller, Owen
AU - Raimondi, Francesca
AU - Grotenhuis, Heynric
AU - Bharucha, Tara
AU - Garrido, Almudena Ortiz
AU - Valsangiacomo, Emanuela
AU - Roest, Arno
AU - Sunnegårdh, Jan
AU - Salaets, Thomas
AU - Brun, Henrik
AU - Khraiche, Diala
AU - Jossif, Antonis
AU - Schokking, Michiel
AU - Sebate-Rotes, Anna
AU - Meyer-Szary, Jaroslaw
AU - Deri, Antigoni
AU - Koopman, Laurens
AU - Herberg, Ulrike
AU - du Marchie Sarvaas, Gideon
AU - Leskinen, Markku
AU - Tchana, Bertrand
AU - Ten Harkel, Arend D J
AU - Ödemis, Ender
AU - Morrison, Louise
AU - Steimetz, Micheal
AU - Laser, Kai Thorsten
AU - Doros, Gabriela
AU - Bellshan-Revell, Hannah
AU - Muntean, Iolanda
AU - Anagostopoulou, Andriana
AU - Alpman, Maria Sjoborg
AU - Hunter, Lindsey
AU - Ojala, Tiina
AU - Bhat, Misha
AU - Olejnik, Peter
AU - Wacker, Julie
AU - Bonello, Beatrice
AU - Ramcharan, Tristan
AU - Greil, Gerald
AU - Marek, Jan
AU - DiSalvo, Giovanni
AU - McMahon, Colin J
PY - 2024/3/5
Y1 - 2024/3/5
N2 - BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. METHODS: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs. RESULTS: Respondents from forty-three centres (45%) in 22 countries completed the survey. Thirty-six centres (84%) have a dedicated paediatric echocardiography laboratory, only five (12%) of which reported they were European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging accredited. The median number of echocardiography rooms was three (range 1-12), and echocardiography machines was four (range 1-12). Only half of all the centres have dedicated imaging physiologists and/or nursing staff, while the majority (79%) have specialist imaging cardiologist(s). The median (range) duration of time for a new examination was 45 (20-60) minutes, and for repeat examination was 20 (5-30) minutes. More than half of respondents (58%) have dedicated time for reporting. An organised training program was present in most centres (78%), 44% undertake quality assurance, and 79% perform research. Guidelines for performing echocardiography were available in 32 centres (74%). CONCLUSION: Facilities, staffing levels, study times, standards in teaching/training, and quality assurance vary widely across paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Greater support and investment to facilitate improvements in staffing levels, equipment, and governance would potentially improve European paediatric echocardiography laboratories.
AB - BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. METHODS: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs. RESULTS: Respondents from forty-three centres (45%) in 22 countries completed the survey. Thirty-six centres (84%) have a dedicated paediatric echocardiography laboratory, only five (12%) of which reported they were European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging accredited. The median number of echocardiography rooms was three (range 1-12), and echocardiography machines was four (range 1-12). Only half of all the centres have dedicated imaging physiologists and/or nursing staff, while the majority (79%) have specialist imaging cardiologist(s). The median (range) duration of time for a new examination was 45 (20-60) minutes, and for repeat examination was 20 (5-30) minutes. More than half of respondents (58%) have dedicated time for reporting. An organised training program was present in most centres (78%), 44% undertake quality assurance, and 79% perform research. Guidelines for performing echocardiography were available in 32 centres (74%). CONCLUSION: Facilities, staffing levels, study times, standards in teaching/training, and quality assurance vary widely across paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe. Greater support and investment to facilitate improvements in staffing levels, equipment, and governance would potentially improve European paediatric echocardiography laboratories.
KW - echocardiography
KW - education
KW - governance
KW - laboratories
KW - paediatric cardiology
KW - training
U2 - 10.1017/S1047951124000131
DO - 10.1017/S1047951124000131
M3 - Article
SN - 1047-9511
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Cardiology in the Young
JF - Cardiology in the Young
ER -