Web-Based Quality Assurance Process Drives Improvements in Obstetric Ultrasound in 5 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Web-Based Quality Assurance Process Drives Improvements in Obstetric Ultrasound in 5 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
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DOI：
10.9745/ghsp-d-16-00156
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发表时间：
2016-12-23
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
Nathan RO
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Swanson JO;Plotner D;Franklin HL;Swanson DL;Lokomba Bolamba V;Lokangaka A;Sayury Pineda I;Figueroa L;Garces A;Muyodi D;Esamai F;Kanaiza N;Mirza W;Naqvi F;Saleem S;Mwenechanya M;Chiwila M;Hamsumonde D;McClure EM;Goldenberg RL;Nathan RO
新培训的超声检查人员通过质量保证流程提高了绩效，该流程将 (1) 远程专家对上传到网站的图像进行评估与 (2) 定期现场技能测试相结合。为了促进可持续发展，国内监管者逐渐承担起更多的形象评估责任。用户友好且高效的界面使用简单的菜单和表单，根据用户的角色进行定制。新培训的超声检查人员通过质量保证流程提高了绩效，该流程将 (1) 远程专家对上传到网站的图像进行评估与 (2) 定期现场技能测试相结合。为了促进可持续发展，国内监管者逐渐承担起更多的形象评估责任。用户友好且高效的界面使用简单的菜单和表单，根据用户的角色进行定制。高质量在医学成像中非常重要，但在许多地理区域，高技能的超声检查人员供不应求。互联网能力的进步以及可靠的便携式超声设备的发展创造了为全球农村地区进行的超声检查提供集中远程质量保证 (QA) 的机会。我们试图通过开发一个基于网络的工具来利用这些进步，以促进新培训的超声检查人员的质量保证活动，这些超声检查人员正在参加一项集群随机试验，该试验调查有限产科超声在改善 5 个低收入和中等收入国家妊娠结局中的作用。我们面临着连接问题、特定国家对网站可用性的需求以及对高吞吐量系统的总体需求的挑战。在系统地满足这些需求后，最终的 QA 网站帮助推动了所有 5 个国家的超声质量改进。它现在提供了被未来基于超声或成像的全球健康计划采用的潜力。
Newly trained sonographers improved performance through a quality assurance process that merged (1) evaluation by remote experts of images uploaded to a website, with (2) periodic in-person skill tests. To promote sustainability, in-country supervisors gradually assumed more responsibility for image evaluation. The user-friendly and efficient interface used simple menus and forms, customized based on the user's role. Newly trained sonographers improved performance through a quality assurance process that merged (1) evaluation by remote experts of images uploaded to a website, with (2) periodic in-person skill tests. To promote sustainability, in-country supervisors gradually assumed more responsibility for image evaluation. The user-friendly and efficient interface used simple menus and forms, customized based on the user's role. High quality is important in medical imaging, yet in many geographic areas, highly skilled sonographers are in short supply. Advances in Internet capacity along with the development of reliable portable ultrasounds have created an opportunity to provide centralized remote quality assurance (QA) for ultrasound exams performed at rural sites worldwide. We sought to harness these advances by developing a web-based tool to facilitate QA activities for newly trained sonographers who were taking part in a cluster randomized trial investigating the role of limited obstetric ultrasound to improve pregnancy outcomes in 5 low- and middle-income countries. We were challenged by connectivity issues, by country-specific needs for website usability, and by the overall need for a high-throughput system. After systematically addressing these needs, the resulting QA website helped drive ultrasound quality improvement across all 5 countries. It now offers the potential for adoption by future ultrasound- or imaging-based global health initiatives.