Utilization of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Routine Patient Care Among Internal Medicine Resident Physicians in the United States

Background: The integration of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) into internal medicine (IM) residency training and curriculum remains an area for further development and research. Objective: To assess the confidence and barriers to the utilization of POCUS among IM residents in the United States. Methods: This cross-sectional, multi-institutional study involved residents from various IM programs across the United States, who were invited to participate in a voluntary online survey on POCUS confidence and utilization between October 30, 2024, and December 3, 2024. Results: Out of 273 respondents (16.2%), 96.3% were IM residents, and 50.2% were female. 34.4%, 41.0%, and 24.5% were postgraduate year (PGY)-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3, respectively. Residents felt least comfortable with and wanted to learn focused cardiac (46.9%) and extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma (45.1%) scans. The top barriers to POCUS utilization were lack of time (55.7%), lack of confidence in interpreting images (42.9%), and limited access to machines (36.3%). Desired interventions included designated elective time for POCUS training (65.6%), ultrasound machines on every floor (55.3%), and formal integration of POCUS training into residency (53.5%). Self-reported confidence also correlated with training level. Conclusions: This is the first national survey to highlight critical gaps in POCUS utilization among IM residents. This study emphasizes the need for targeted POCUS interventions from program leaders, professional societies, and accrediting bodies for IM residents.