Ultrasound Applications for Emergency Medical Technicians in Taiwan

The goal of this prospective observational study is to develop and assess the core ultrasound applications for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Taiwan. The study focuses on advanced emergency medical technicians (EMT-Ps) and their ability to perform point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in prehospital settings.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can a standardized POCUS training program improve EMT-Ps' competency in ultrasound applications? What is the reliability and validity of the newly established POCUS assessment modules for EMT-Ps? Researchers will compare trained EMT-Ps' ultrasound proficiency and clinical decision-making before and after training to see if structured POCUS education enhances diagnostic accuracy and patient care in prehospital settings.

Participants will:

Attend a structured POCUS training program, including lectures and hands-on practice with standardized patients and simulation models.

Undergo competency assessments, including written exams, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and image interpretation tests.

Perform ultrasound scans on actual patients in prehospital settings, focusing on trauma, respiratory distress, stroke, and cardiac arrest cases.

Receive feedback and participate in follow-up assessments to evaluate knowledge retention and clinical application.

Not Yet Recruiting

Trial opening soon.

Get Notified

Key information

Conditions

Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Point-of-care Ultrasound

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients presenting with one of the following conditions in the prehospital setting:

Trauma Dyspnea (shortness of breath) Suspected stroke Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)

Exclusion criteria

Patients with hemodynamic instability or critical conditions requiring immediate resuscitation, making them unsuitable for focused prehospital ultrasound performed by EMT-Ps.
Patients under the age of 18.

Treatment and study plan

POCUS education curriculum

Other

The training includes a 4-hour curriculum consisting of a 1-hour didactic session covering ultrasound principles and key applications, followed by 3 hours of hands-on practice using standardized models or phantoms under instructor supervision. Core scanning topics include Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST), lung ultrasound for dyspnea, carotid Doppler for suspected stroke, and focused cardiac ultrasound for cardiac arrest. Post-training assessments include a written test and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

Primary outcomes

Ultrasound Image Quality Score for Target Structure Visualization

Time frame: From enrollment to one day after patient was sent to hospital

The score of ultrasound images assessing the visualization quality of target anatomical structures (e.g., blood vessels, Morrison's pouch, spleno-renal recess, cul-de-sac), evaluated using a standardized 10-point image quality rating scale (1 = Poor, 10 = Excellent). Each ultrasound image receives an overall score reflecting the adequacy of target structure visualization, as rated by trained reviewers.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Wan-Ching Lien, M.D., Ph.D.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+886-2-23123456 ext. 262831

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Taiwan University Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Development and Assessment of the Core Ultrasound Applications for Emergency Medical Technicians in Taiwan

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Apr 30, 2025
Registry last updated: Apr 30, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Active, Not Recruiting