Self-reported POCUS practice and confidence after structured workshop for early-career nephrologists: a questionnaire study.

Abstract

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly incorporated into nephrology practice, yet comparative data on educational strategies and the durability of their effects remain limited. We conducted a questionnaire-based study to examine whether a structured workshop (WS) differs from on-the-job training (OJT) in shaping self-reported POCUS practice and confidence among early-career nephrologists.

Methods: In August 2025, nephrologists with fewer than 15 postgraduate years at a single academic center were surveyed. Participants were categorized into three cohorts: those who attended a structured WS program (didactic lectures and hands-on training) in 2023, those who received OJT only in 2024, and those who received OJT only in 2025. All assessments were retrospectively reported at a single survey time point. Outcomes included self-rated confidence in examination frequency, technical skill, image interpretation, and mentoring others using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: Thirty-four respondents (79.1% of all eligible nephrologists) were analyzed. In recalled post-training assessments, the WS group demonstrated higher confidence in interpretation and mentoring compared with OJT cohorts, whereas no differences were observed in technical skill or examination frequency. At the time of the survey, no significant between-group differences persisted. Within the WS group, confidence scores declined across all domains over time.

Conclusion: In this exploratory study, structured workshops were associated with greater recalled post-training confidence in interpretative and mentoring domains, but these gains attenuated without reinforcement. Sustainable integration of nephrology-specific POCUS may require longitudinal, organization-supported educational frameworks rather than isolated instructional interventions, such as OJT alone.