Current Status of Fetal Echocardiography Imaging and Fetal Counseling Fellow Training in 29 European Countries.

IF 1.4 4区 医学 Q3 CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS
Taisto Sarkola, Anna N Seale, Andreas Tulzer, Sophie M Duignan, Agnieszka Grzyb, Giulia Tuo, Ellen Vanhie, Colin J McMahon
{"title":"Current Status of Fetal Echocardiography Imaging and Fetal Counseling Fellow Training in 29 European Countries.","authors":"Taisto Sarkola, Anna N Seale, Andreas Tulzer, Sophie M Duignan, Agnieszka Grzyb, Giulia Tuo, Ellen Vanhie, Colin J McMahon","doi":"10.1007/s00246-025-04006-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Limited data exist on the implementation of current fetal cardiology training and practice guidelines, how trainees are assessed, and how trained fetal cardiologists maintain their skills among countries affiliated with the Association of European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC). A structured questionnaire was sent to fetal cardiologists or national delegates from 44 centers in 33 European countries. Responses were obtained from 37 centers in 29 European countries with 31 responses from fetal cardiologists. Fetal echocardiography was equally performed in maternal (18) and pediatric (16) hospitals with median 3 (range 0-6) fetal cardiologists per center and > 4 fetal cardiologists in 13 centers. Core and advanced fetal cardiology training was offered in 17 (46%) and 21 (57%) centers. Advanced training was provided in higher volume centers (19/21). Assessment methods included direct trainee observation, case-based discussions, and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings, with mostly verbal feedback provided. Criteria for independent fetal echocardiography and counseling were based on training duration (range 2-24 months), number of assessments (range 100-1500), and number of counseling abnormal cases (range 40-200) performed under expert supervision, as well as on expert evaluations of trainees based on direct observation and fetal cardiac diagnostic accuracy. Formal certification in fetal cardiology was reported in three centers. Research activity among trained experts was reported among 25 (68%) respondents overall with 19 respondents involved with collaborative research. Trainee research was encouraged but not mandatory in clinical training. Maintenance of expert skills included sufficient clinical activity volume, teaching, and different forms of national and international networking. Fetal cardiology service quality assessments included missed cases discussion in 20 (54%) centers. There is substantial variation in advanced fetal cardiology training practice in Europe suggesting a need for further clarification of training criteria and structure. Trainee assessment is mainly verbal and based on direct observation. There seems to be a need to strengthen the fetal cardiology module in core pediatric cardiology training and to improve quality assessment of the clinical service provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":19814,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Cardiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pediatric Cardiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-025-04006-0","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Limited data exist on the implementation of current fetal cardiology training and practice guidelines, how trainees are assessed, and how trained fetal cardiologists maintain their skills among countries affiliated with the Association of European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC). A structured questionnaire was sent to fetal cardiologists or national delegates from 44 centers in 33 European countries. Responses were obtained from 37 centers in 29 European countries with 31 responses from fetal cardiologists. Fetal echocardiography was equally performed in maternal (18) and pediatric (16) hospitals with median 3 (range 0-6) fetal cardiologists per center and > 4 fetal cardiologists in 13 centers. Core and advanced fetal cardiology training was offered in 17 (46%) and 21 (57%) centers. Advanced training was provided in higher volume centers (19/21). Assessment methods included direct trainee observation, case-based discussions, and participation in multidisciplinary team meetings, with mostly verbal feedback provided. Criteria for independent fetal echocardiography and counseling were based on training duration (range 2-24 months), number of assessments (range 100-1500), and number of counseling abnormal cases (range 40-200) performed under expert supervision, as well as on expert evaluations of trainees based on direct observation and fetal cardiac diagnostic accuracy. Formal certification in fetal cardiology was reported in three centers. Research activity among trained experts was reported among 25 (68%) respondents overall with 19 respondents involved with collaborative research. Trainee research was encouraged but not mandatory in clinical training. Maintenance of expert skills included sufficient clinical activity volume, teaching, and different forms of national and international networking. Fetal cardiology service quality assessments included missed cases discussion in 20 (54%) centers. There is substantial variation in advanced fetal cardiology training practice in Europe suggesting a need for further clarification of training criteria and structure. Trainee assessment is mainly verbal and based on direct observation. There seems to be a need to strengthen the fetal cardiology module in core pediatric cardiology training and to improve quality assessment of the clinical service provided.

29个欧洲国家胎儿超声心动图成像和胎儿咨询培训的现状。
在欧洲儿科和先天性心脏病协会(AEPC)附属国家中,关于当前胎儿心脏病学培训和实践指南的实施、学员如何评估以及训练有素的胎儿心脏病专家如何保持其技能的数据有限。一份结构化的调查问卷发给了来自33个欧洲国家44个中心的胎儿心脏病专家或国家代表。来自29个欧洲国家的37个中心的回复,其中31个来自胎儿心脏病专家。胎儿超声心动图在产妇医院(18家)和儿科医院(16家)同样进行,平均每个中心有3名(范围0-6名)心脏科医生,13个中心有4名心脏科医生。17个中心(46%)和21个中心(57%)提供核心和高级胎儿心脏病学培训。高容量中心提供了高级培训(19/21)。评估方法包括直接观察受训者,基于案例的讨论,以及参与多学科团队会议,主要提供口头反馈。独立胎儿超声心动图和咨询的标准是基于在专家监督下进行的培训时间(2-24个月)、评估次数(100-1500次)和咨询异常病例数(40-200次),以及基于直接观察和胎儿心脏诊断准确性的专家评估。三个中心报告了胎儿心脏病学的正式认证。25名(68%)受访者报告了受过培训的专家之间的研究活动,其中19名受访者参与了合作研究。在临床培训中鼓励实习研究,但不是强制性的。专家技能的维持包括足够的临床活动量、教学和不同形式的国家和国际网络。胎儿心脏病学服务质量评估包括20个(54%)中心的漏诊病例讨论。在欧洲,高级胎儿心脏病学培训实践存在实质性差异,这表明需要进一步澄清培训标准和结构。对受训人员的评估主要是口头的和基于直接观察的。似乎有必要加强核心儿科心脏病学培训中的胎儿心脏病学模块,并改进所提供临床服务的质量评估。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
来源期刊
Pediatric Cardiology
Pediatric Cardiology 医学-小儿科
CiteScore
3.30
自引率
6.20%
发文量
258
审稿时长
12 months
期刊介绍: The editor of Pediatric Cardiology welcomes original manuscripts concerning all aspects of heart disease in infants, children, and adolescents, including embryology and anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, genetics, radiology, clinical aspects, investigative cardiology, electrophysiology and echocardiography, and cardiac surgery. Articles which may include original articles, review articles, letters to the editor etc., must be written in English and must be submitted solely to Pediatric Cardiology.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:604180095
Book学术官方微信