Published online Dec 28, 2020. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v12.i12.302
Peer-review started: May 10, 2020
First decision: October 21, 2020
Revised: October 27, 2020
Accepted: November 4, 2020
Article in press: November 4, 2020
Published online: December 28, 2020
Processing time: 231 Days and 14 Hours
In developed countries, the economic feasibility of using ultrasound in ambulances before arriving at the hospital has been achieved through comprehensive studies, and this of course does not apply to Arab countries, as there are no current studies to support this. Therefore, this study is a preliminary measure of the economic feasibility of using ultrasound in ambulances in Saudi Arabia.
To measure the demand for ultrasound equipment in ambulances in Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional study of five different groups of participants including radiation technologists, emergency physicians, paramedics, Red Crescent managers and the public. Email and social media were used to deliver a questionnaire to these groups. The questionnaire included specific questions to measure the purpose of ultrasound use in each group of participants.
Each group had some knowledge on ultrasound and its benefits. More than 50% in each study group supported the availability of ultrasound in ambulances. Additionally, 60% of emergency physicians reported that they had difficulties in venous access, checking the presence of internal bleeding, recognizing pregnancy in trauma cases, and inserting endotracheal tubes, and the majority of them confirmed the effective role of ultrasound in achieving such tasks. Almost all paramedics (93.33%), physicians (98.89%), and Saudi Red Crescent managers (96.3%) emphasized the importance of communication between ambulance staff and emergency departments. Moreover, most physicians (77.78%), and technologists (82.73%) supported the presence of paramedics in ambulances to operate ultrasound in order to improve patient outcomes.
Most of the study groups evaluated had knowledge on ultrasound and supported the presence of ultrasound devices in ambulances.
Core Tip: Ultrasound is a non-invasive method, which is useful and effective for both traumatic and non-traumatic conditions. Therefore, more studies are urgently needed for rapid diagnosis using ultrasound before hospitalization, specifically for emergencies. In fact, diagnoses have not yet been extensively made using this method prior to hospitalization. Most studies refer to comfort samples and trauma patients, often by pre-hospital or critical care physicians. The importance of the presence and application of ultrasound devices in ambulances provides us with a new model for the introduction of new technologies in the future that contain ultrasound for possible early diagnosis and to then send patient data to the relevant hospital before arrival.