ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recently several Pediatric Musculoskeletal ultrasound (PedMSUS) courses have been held. However, content, conduct and format of PedMSUS courses have never been internationally agreed. Objectives: To produce practical and educational recommendations for the conduct, content and format of EULAR/PReS PedMSUS courses. Methods: The project consisted of a joined EULAR/PReS effort and was conducted in two separate phases. 1.Through a systematic literature review, including extensive search on websites and networks on educational projects/events regarding PedMSUS, a list of potential items for the content, conduct and format of basic, intermediate, advanced courses and Teach-The-Theachers (TTT) Ped- MSUS courses, respectively, was identified. Through two Delphi processes, a panel of experts (project Taskforce) found agreement on the items to be considered for each PedMSUS level of competency. 2. Consensus on the proposed items was reached among a broader group of physicians and health care professionals with interest in pedMSUS and/or involved in previous EULAR/PReS MSUS educational events (Consensus Group). Agreement or consensus was achieved on each topic if selected by at least 75% of the participants. Results: Twenty-two out of 24 (92%) Taskforce members participated to the I Delphi-round, whereas 18/22 (82%) to the II round;45/114 (39%) members of the Consensus Group answered the consensus survey. Agreement and consensus were reached on: format of threelevel education model (basic, intermediate and advanced);courses placed prior to the annual PReS and EULAR or joined EULAR/PReS congresses;distribution between theoretical and practical part of 50%-50% for basic courses and 40%-60% for intermediate courses;a maximum of 4 participants per teacher in practical sessions;models at the basic courses should be represented by healthy children, whereas they should patients for intermediate and advanced courses;courses could be attended with by Pediatric Rheumatologists, Adult Rheumatologists and Radiologists;Faculty members/tutors should fulfil prerequisites and should have successfully attended EULAR MSUS TTT courses;TTT courses should be held just prior to the EULAR congress and linked to the EULAR/PReS PedMSUS course;the theoretical part should include how to prepare and deliver educational material, how to organize a PedMSUS course and how to conduct a practical session;practical and theoretical part in TTT should respectively cover 50% of the course;a certificate of attendance and a certificate of successful competency assessment should be provided for all the levels of competency. Conclusion: Shared EULAR/PReS procedures for the conduct, content and format of PedMSUS basic, intermediate, advanced and TTT courses were identified and will allow homogeneous and high-level educational events on PedMSUS under EULAR/PReS umbrella. The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemia, that spread in the meaningwhile, could not be investigated and may deserve additional insights.