Head Motion Analysis as an Objective Measure of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Procedural Guidance Competency

Abstract

Background:. Currently, there is no standardization in ED-based-Ultrasound-guided-nerve-blocks (UGNB) training, credentialing, or procedural quality assurance nation-wide. This study aims to investigate objective measures of procedural competency for UGNB. Methods: Novice and expert users performed UGNB in a simulation-based setting. Participants were fitted with a head-motion tracking headband and their performance graded with a traditional OSCE. Head motion metrics were captured using both accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. Results: 11 novices and 7 experts were recruited. OSCE scores demonstrated a statistically significant difference between groups. Significant correlations were observed for accelerometer data in the z-axis and gyroscope data in the y-and z-axes, with positive correlation between accelerometer z-axis RMS values and OSCE scores(r=0.36), and gyroscope z-axis RMS values and OSCE scores(r=0.29). Conclusion: Objective measures of head motion in the z-axis demonstrated significant differences between novice and expert POCUS. Our data suggests that computer-based metrics may be reliable measures of procedural competency.