Tepak nursing department pilot study on fast ultrasound assessments

A pilot study conducted by the Department of Nursing at the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) has demonstrated high levels of agreement, ranging from 98.3% to 100%, between appropriately trained nurses and physicians when performing Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) examinations. The research, carried out at the Nicosia General Hospital, aimed to evaluate whether specialized training could enable nursing staff to accurately perform these critical ultrasound assessments in emergency departments.

The findings, which were published in the journal Healthcare last April, were recently presented at the ESICM LIVES 2026 international conference held in Lisbon from October 10 to 14. The study focused on the inter-rater agreement regarding the detection of free fluid in specific anatomical regions of trauma patients. Researchers clarified that the reported percentages represent the level of agreement between examiners rather than a formal measurement of total diagnostic accuracy.

While the results highlight the significant potential of enhancing nursing staff capabilities in emergency care, the study authors emphasize that this is a pilot project. Consequently, the findings require validation through larger-scale clinical investigations before any changes to standard emergency department protocols can be implemented.