Sound Decisions: Advancing Emergency Ultrasound in Nablus

A hybrid course was conducted for residents in emergency medicine, anesthesiology, and general surgery. The curriculum consisted of four weeks of interactive online lectures followed by five days of in-person workshops featuring hands-on scanning of both healthy volunteers and patients under faculty supervision. Trainee confidence and clinical integration were assessed via 5-point Likert scale surveys (1=Strongly Agree to 5=Strongly Disagree), while foundational knowledge and image recognition were measured using pre- and post-course tests.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a critical diagnostic tool in emergency settings, yet access to structured training remains limited in the West Bank. This study evaluated the impact of a longitudinal hybrid training program on physician knowledge and confidence at Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus, a region with high rates of conflict-related trauma and limited radiology services. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a transformative diagnostic and procedural tool for rapid bedside decision-making, particularly in resource-constrained environments where traditional imaging may be unavailable. This study evaluated the impact of a longitudinal hybrid training program at Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus, a major referral center for the northern West Bank.

Analysis included trainees who completed both pre- and post-course assessments. Participants showed statistically significant improvements across all domains. Mean knowledge scores rose from 42% to 56% (p

Implementing a structured, longitudinal hybrid POCUS model is an effective and sustainable approach to improving clinical knowledge and learner confidence in resource-limited environments. Despite challenges such as cognitive fatigue from clinical duties, these findings support the formal integration of POCUS training into residency curricula to enhance emergency care systems.