Abstract 18811: Improving the Practicality of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease: Performance of Non-expert Users Following Completion of a Standardized Computer-based Training Curriculum

Background: Echocardiography (echo) is the most sensitive tool for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) detection. However, widespread screening programs are non-existent due to lack of financial and expert human resources in endemic areas. Task-shifting to non-experts to perform RHD screening is promising; however, investigations into workforce composition and replicable training schemes are needed. Objective: Test non-experts’ ability to conduct RHD screening following a brief, standardized, computer-based training course. Methods: Six non-experts with a variety of backgrounds (nurses, health technicians, medical students) and echo experience (6 wks-1 yr) completed a 3-module computer-based curriculum focusing on simplified criteria for RHD screening (mitral regurgitation (MR) ≥1.5cm and/or any aortic regurgitation). Following training, two teams of 3 non-experts were placed in school screening environments. Gold-standard diagnoses of RHD (2012, World Heart Federation criteria) were made by cardiologists using...