DNP Educational Research
Focused Preoperative Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) Training
Informed Consent for an Adult to Participate in Research. Please read this information carefully before you begin.
Invitation to be part of a research study
You are invited to participate in an educational research study entitled: Focused Preoperative Cardiac Ultrasound (FoCUS) Training.
Study details
The purpose of the study is to develop and evaluate a free, online focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) simulation training platform for anesthesia providers, and to measure whether the training improves providers’ knowledge, clinical decision-making, and confidence in performing a basic preoperative FoCUS examination. Focused cardiac ultrasound is a brief, limited ultrasound look at the heart performed at the bedside.
The anticipated number of participants in the study is approximately 30. Participation is voluntary; you may withdraw at any time without penalty. There are no alternative procedures aside from withdrawing from the study.
If you agree to take part in this study, you will complete a five-step online training program on your own internet-connected device:
(1) a brief background questionnaire
(2) a pre-training knowledge, confidence, and case-based assessment
(3) five short educational modules on focused cardiac ultrasound
(4) an interactive exercise that uses your own smartphone as a simulated ultrasound probe
(5) an identical post-training assessment
You may also choose to attend a brief, optional in-person demonstration of a three-dimensional printed probe-orientation model in the anesthesia break room (specific dates will be announced). No patients are involved, and you will not perform ultrasound on any person.
Participation will take approximately 45–60 minutes total and will not exceed 1 hour. The estimated time for each component is as follows:
- Pre-intervention knowledge assessment: approximately 5–10 minutes
- FoCUS educational modules and simulated hands-on practice using the smartphone-based ultrasound simulation: approximately 25–30 minutes
- Post-intervention knowledge assessment and case study: approximately 10–15 minutes
- Post-intervention survey assessing confidence, usability, feasibility, and perceived usefulness: approximately 5 minutes
Participants will complete all study activities during a single session. Individual completion times may vary; however, total participation is expected to be approximately 45–60 minutes and will not exceed 1 hour.
Risks & benefits
Participation in this study is unlikely to cause discomfort or pose any risk to you. Risks to participating in this study are no greater than those encountered in everyday life. You may benefit directly from participating by increasing your knowledge, skills, and confidence in performing a basic preoperative focused cardiac ultrasound examination. The research will help us learn whether an accessible online simulation program can improve anesthesia providers’ preoperative focused cardiac ultrasound knowledge, decision-making, and confidence, which may ultimately support perioperative patient safety.
Anonymity & confidentiality
All study data will be kept confidential, and participation is anonymous. No identifying information, including IP addresses, is collected. Responses are stored anonymously with a sequential participant number only. Electronic data will be stored on a password-protected, investigator-controlled device accessible only to the principal investigator and the faculty chair. All data will be kept for at least three years following completion of the study.
Use of data in the future
The data, with identifiers removed, may be used in future research or distributed to another investigator without additional informed consent.
Questions about the research or your rights as a research participant
Ashley G. Campbell, SRNA — Principal Investigator, Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program · 407-969-7469 · Ashley.campbell@mymail.barry.edu
Dr. Dawn Welliver, CRNA, APRN — Faculty Sponsor, Barry University Nurse Anesthesia Program · dwelliver@barry.edu
Barry University IRB — Ms. Anoush McNamee · 305-899-3020 · amcnamee@barry.edu
Voluntary consent
Your participation is completely voluntary. If you are willing to participate in this research, please indicate your consent below and click Begin. No patient information is collected or entered at any point, and you may stop at any time without any effect on your employment or academic standing.
A Little About You
This information helps us understand the background of participants. No identifying information is collected.
Before You Begin: Pre-Training Assessment
The next set of questions assesses your current knowledge, confidence, and clinical decision-making related to focused preoperative cardiac ultrasound — before you see the training content.
There are no trick questions, and it's completely okay not to know an answer. Please give your best response. This will take about 10 minutes.
Knowledge Check
Confidence Survey
For each statement, select the response that best reflects your level of agreement (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree).
Case-Based Scenarios
Module
Virtual Probe Simulation
This optional activity turns your phone into a simulated ultrasound probe. Connect your phone below, then hold and move it the way you would position a real probe on a patient's chest. This screen plays real scan footage: as you move toward the apical four-chamber (A4C) window, the image travels from off-axis into the A4C view and locks on.
The target window: A4C (a real echocardiography loop). Connect your phone to find it.
On your phone, open the Camera app and point it at this code, then tap the banner that appears.
Or open this address on your phone's browser:
…
This step is optional — you can skip it and continue to the post-assessment at any time.
Final Feedback
A few last questions about your experience.
Your hands-on experience
About the training
Your feedback
Complete
Thank You
Here is a summary of your pre- and post-training results.
Your Responses
Finalizing…