Quality management of nuchal translucency ultrasound measurement in Australia

The Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Debbie L NisbetAndrew C McLennan

Abstract

Nuchal translucency measurement has an established role in first trimester screening. Accurate measurement requires that technical guidelines are followed. Performance can be monitored by auditing the distribution of measurements obtained in a series of cases. The primary aim is to develop an accessible, theory-based educational program for individuals whose distribution of measurements at audit falls outside an acceptable range, and assess operator performance following this intervention. Operators whose nuchal translucency measurement distributions fall outside a normal range (38-65% above the median) were expected to undergo a teleconference tutorial. Accessible from anywhere in Australia, the one hour tutorials were run by a senior sonographer (to explain technical ultrasound aspects) and the audit program manager (to explain the audit process). In 2011, 83 operators attended the teleconference tutorials. Compared to a random comparison group of operators meeting standard in 2011, teleconference tutorial attendees were significantly more likely to: (i) operate in rural or regional, rather than metropolitan, centres (P = 0.001); (ii) be less experienced (P < 0.0005); and (iii) have lower annual scan numbers (P = 0.0012). Imp...Continue Reading

References

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Sep 1, 2017·Nursing Administration Quarterly·Camille Haycock, Annette Schandl

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Citations

Feb 27, 2021·Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology : the Official Journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·L L ThornburgUNKNOWN Nuchal Translucency Quality Review Program of the Perinatal Quality Foundation
Nov 27, 2021·Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine·Mindy LipsitzPatricia Henwood

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