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ORIGINAL ARTICLE determine the effectiveness of treatment approaches, including mechanical ventilation. 6 As technology continues to evolve and due B ACKGROUND The utility of lung ultrasound (LUS) has gained significantly increased popularity over the last decade and is frequently done at the patient’s bedside, especially in acute care settings such as the emergency department and the intensive care unit (ICU). 1–3 Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a radiation-free, low-cost, rapid, and portable diagnostic tool allowing the real-time assessment of lung and related structures. Studies that compared LUS with chest radiography reported that LUS is highly sensitive and specific in detecting pleural effusion, pneumonia, pneumothorax, and pulmonary edema. 4,5 One of the main advantages of LUS over chest X-rays and computed tomography scans is its ability to diagnose conditions in real-time. LUS is performed at the bedside, which allows the physician to obtain immediate results and make an accurate diagnosis. This is particularly useful in emergency and critical care settings, where prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, LUS can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and guide interventional procedures. For example, LUS can be used to monitor the progression of lung disorders, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, and to 1 Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Srinivas University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India; Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Khawarizmi International College, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2 Srinivas Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Srinivas University, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India 3 Department of Allied Health, Sidra Medicine, Qatar 4 Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Khawarizmi International College, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Corresponding Author: Manjush Karthika, Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Khawarizmi International College, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, e-mail: manjushnair@hotmail.com How to cite this article: Mathew CS, Dias E, Wong D, et al. Lung Ultrasound in Respiratory Therapy: A Pre- and Post-Training Analysis. Indian J Respir Care 2023;12(2):151–162. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None Lung Ultrasound in Respiratory Therapy: A Pre- and Post-Training Analysis Chris S Mathew 1 , Edwin Dias 2 , Duane Wong 3 , Manjush Karthika 4 Received on: 01 May 2023; Accepted on: 15 June 2023; Published on: 30 June 2023 A BSTRACT Background: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a bedside diagnostic tool to assess the pulmonary status of patients in diverse scenarios of acute care and is typically performed and interpreted by physicians. Within the multidisciplinary group of clinicians, respiratory therapists (RTs) are considered to be one of the principal caregivers for patients who require comprehensive respiratory support. However, the practice and use of LUS by RTs over other healthcare professionals is still in its infancy. Hence this study aimed to look at the outcome of a 2-day training offered to RTs in terms of their acquired knowledge and practical skill. Methodology: This is a pilot study of a doctoral thesis that explores the scope of LUS in the respiratory therapy profession. The study was designed with a pre and posttraining analysis to determine the effectiveness of the skillset of RTs before and after training. The RTs were selected based on their participation consent, and the training was approved by the Department of Allied Health (respiratory therapy), Sidra Medicine, Qatar. The training program included didactic theory sessions and application sessions for 16 hours (2 days). The sociodemographic data was measured, and the analysis was based on a questionnaire, which measures the techniques and terminologies of LUS and its clinical applications. In addition, the competency of the RTs was determined, and a comparative study was done with their different levels of educational qualifications and years of experience. Results: The demographic data revealed the age, gender, educational qualification, and years of experience of the RTs. The pretest results showed that only five out of 24 participants (21%) scored >60%, whereas, in the posttest, it was observed that 23 out of 24 (96%) scored >60% of the total score, reflecting the importance of didactic theory sessions and practical sessions. The competency results revealed that even RTs who had >10 years of experience also needed some ongoing education and training periodically, as few of them failed to identify the clinical signs. This study indicates that irrespective of educational qualification and years of experience; RTs require continuing education, periodic assessment, and hands-on training sessions to upgrade their skill set in performing LUS. Conclusion: We conclude that our study has proven to be beneficial in terms of the knowledge and skills attained by RTs on LUS. Acquiring such skills sets a benchmark in the current practice of RTs, and this may reduce adverse events, specifically in ventilated patients, leading to improved patient care and safety. Keywords: Lung ultrasound, Respiratory therapists, Training. Indian Journal of Respiratory Care (2023): 10.5005/jp-journals-11010-1050