%0 Journal Article
%T Pediatric ultrasound practice in Italy: an exploratory survey.
%A Musolino AM
%A Tei M
%A De Rose C
%A Buonsenso D
%A Supino MC
%A Zampogna S
%A Staiano A
%A Raponi M
%A Amendolea A
%A Colacino V
%A Gori L
%A Manganaro A
%A Ricci R
%A D'Inzeo V
%A Grosso S
%A Villani A
%A Agostiniani R
%J Ital J Pediatr
%V 50
%N 1
%D 2024 Jun 9
%M 38853266
%F 3.288
%R 10.1186/s13052-024-01680-3
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The aim of this exploratory survey is to describe the current state of US (ultrasound) technique across different pediatric settings nationwide.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A questionnaire was emailed to all members of the Italian Society of Pediatrics, including pediatric residents. The survey was open from December 2021 to March 2022.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>There were 1098 respondents. Seven hundred and seven pediatricians (84.1%) reported any use of US, while 51 (44.3%) residents denied it. The majority of participants (n = 956, 87.1%) reported to have a US machine available within the department, mostly cart-based (n = 516, 66.9%) and provided from 1 to 5 years prior to the survey (n = 330, 42.8%). Lung and neonatal cerebral regions were the most frequently scanned (n = 289, 18.7% and n = 218, 14.1%, respectively). The suspicion of pneumonia or respiratory distress represented the main reasons for performing US in emergency room (n = 390, 78% and n = 330, 66%, respectively). The majority of family pediatricians reported to scan lung and kidney/urinary tract regions (n = 30, 16.9%, and n = 23,12.9%, respectively). Regarding US training, the majority of respondents (n = 358, 34.6%) declared an experience-based education, with a deficient certification enabling the use of US in 71.6% (n = 552) of cases. The most common barriers included the lack of a well-defined training program (n = 627, 57.1%), unavailability of the US machine (n = 196, 17.9%) and legal responsibility concern (n = 175, 15.9%).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Despite the growing interest on pediatric US nationally, significant barriers still limit widespread adoption. These obstacles may be addressed through the dissemination of a specific US education plan and providing additional resources.