Ultrasound in Cardiopulmonary Arrest and Resuscitation: Constructing Comprehensive Implementation Frameworks in High-Risk Settings.

OBJECTIVES: Information obtained from point-of-care ultrasound during cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation (POCUS-CA) can be used to identify underlying pathophysiology and provide life-sustaining interventions. However, integration of POCUS-CA into resuscitation care is inconsistent. We used expert consensus building methodology to help identify discrete barriers to clinical integration. We subsequently applied implementation science frameworks to generate generalizable strategies to overcome these barriers.

MEASURES AND MAIN RESULTS: Two multidisciplinary expert working groups used KJ Reverse-Merlin consensus building method to identify and characterize barriers contributing to failed POCUS-CA utilization in a hypothetical future state. Identified barriers were organized into affinity groups. The Center for Implementation Research (CFIR) framework and Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (CFIR-ERIC) tool were used to identify strategies to guide POCUS-US implementation.

RESULTS: Sixteen multidisciplinary resuscitation content experts participated in the working groups and identified individual barriers, consolidated into 19 unique affinity groups that mapped 12 separate CFIR constructs, representing all 5 CFIR domains. The CFIR-ERIC tool identified the following strategies as most impactful to address barriers described in the affinity groups: identify and prepare champions, conduct local needs assessment, conduct local consensus discussions, and conduct educational meetings.

CONCLUSIONS: KJ Reverse-Merlin consensus building identified multiple barriers to implementing POCUS-CA. Implementation science methodologies identified and prioritized strategies to overcome barriers and guide POCUS-CA implementation across diverse clinical settings.