Background Information & Study Aims
This study involves focus groups with key stakeholders involved with point-of-care ultrasound in Ireland. The focus groups will last no more than 1 hour and will be held via zoom to facilitate participants.

This expression of interest form is simply to gather information about your experience, basic demographic information and your availability for a focus group.

If you are chosen to participate, you will be contacted by the researcher by email, provided further information and asked to sign a focus group consent form.

We hope to hold conversations with established POCUS users, prospective POCUS users, imaging specialists (radiologists, sonographers, cardiac physiologists, vascular physiologists, PACS radiographers etc) and governance stakeholders (individuals involved in policy, regulation, clinical governance or other).

We thank you sincerely for your time in completing this expression of interest form which should take less than 3 minutes and for your interest in our focus group study.
This study aims:
  • To explore stakeholder perspectives on access to and experiences of POCUS education and training in Ireland.
  • To examine perceived barriers and enablers influencing the development of POCUS competency across different clinical and professional contexts.
  • To explore stakeholder perspectives on governance and oversight requirements for safe POCUS practice, including supervision, competency assessment, and quality assurance processes.
  • To identify areas of alignment and divergence across stakeholder groups in relation to educational access and governance in POCUS implementation.
  • To inform the development of future educational and/or governance strategies for POCUS in Ireland.

All information regarding participation in this study can be found here, in the participant information leaflet.
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they:

- are aged 18 years or older;
- are currently working in Ireland or have substantial professional experience relevant to the Irish healthcare or healthcare education context;
- belong to one of the predefined stakeholder groups relevant to POCUS implementation, namely: Structured POCUS User, Independent POCUS user, Prospective POCUS user, Imaging Specialists, or Governance Stakeholders;
- can participate in a focus group conducted in English;
- are willing and able to provide informed consent.

*Prospective POCUS user group
- must demonstrate a clear interest in POCUS. This may include but is not limited to:
- expressed intent to undertake POCUS training;
- previous attempts to access training opportunities;
- identification of unmet training needs;
- perceived barriers to accessing supervision or competency development;
- interest in integrating POCUS into their clinical practice.

Participants will be excluded if they:

- do not have a professional, educational, governance, or implementation-related role relevant to POCUS;
- are unable to participate in English;
- do not provide informed consent;
- submit duplicate expressions of interest (in which case only one submission will be considered.
- Are unable to attend at the scheduled dates/times

Question Title

1.
Consent

  • I have read and understood the Participant Information Leaflet about this research study.
  • I understand that I don’t have to take part in this study and that I can opt out at any time.
  • I understand that I don’t have to give a reason for opting out and I understand that opting out won’t affect my good standing with UCD.
  • I have been given a copy of the Participant Information Leaflet.
  • I give informed consent to take part in this research study having been fully informed of the risks, benefits and alternatives.
  • I understand that procedures will be put in place to ensure that my data will be stored safely and securely to protect my identity and confidentiality.
  • I understand that the findings of this study may be reported in aggregate/summarised form at conferences and in journal publications, in a way that does not compromise my confidentiality.
  • I understand that if I meet the criteria and I am chosen for a focus group, I will be provided with further information and will be required to sign a consent form to participate.
  • If I meet the criteria and I am chosen for a focus group, I give permission to be contacted on the email below to aid scheduling and provide written consent.
If, having read the above information, you consent to participate, please tick yes.
If you do not consent, you will be taken to the end of the survey. (Required.)

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