Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consec...

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Main Authors: Pei Sun, Hong Han, Yi-Kang Sun, Xi Wang, Xiao-Chuan Liu, Bo-Yang Zhou, Li-Fan Wang, Ya-Qin Zhang, Zhi-Gang Pan, Bei-Jian Huang, Hui-Xiong Xu, Chong-Ke Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2025-03-01
Series:Ultrasonography
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Online Access:http://www.e-ultrasonography.org/upload/usg-24172.pdf
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author Pei Sun
Hong Han
Yi-Kang Sun
Xi Wang
Xiao-Chuan Liu
Bo-Yang Zhou
Li-Fan Wang
Ya-Qin Zhang
Zhi-Gang Pan
Bei-Jian Huang
Hui-Xiong Xu
Chong-Ke Zhao
author_facet Pei Sun
Hong Han
Yi-Kang Sun
Xi Wang
Xiao-Chuan Liu
Bo-Yang Zhou
Li-Fan Wang
Ya-Qin Zhang
Zhi-Gang Pan
Bei-Jian Huang
Hui-Xiong Xu
Chong-Ke Zhao
author_sort Pei Sun
collection DOAJ
description Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs (setting A:without artificial intelligence (AI), setting B: with AI) and specialist doctors (setting C) using handheld devices. The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.
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spelling doaj-art-d67779044b4842ac87bed9cdaf5ed1bb2025-08-20T03:03:50ZengKorean Society of Ultrasound in MedicineUltrasonography2288-59432025-03-0144211212310.14366/usg.241721744Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trialPei Sun0Hong Han1Yi-Kang Sun2Xi Wang3Xiao-Chuan Liu4Bo-Yang Zhou5Li-Fan Wang6Ya-Qin Zhang7Zhi-Gang Pan8Bei-Jian Huang9Hui-Xiong Xu10Chong-Ke Zhao11 Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China General Medicine Department, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China General Medicine Department, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Department of Ultrasound, Zhongshan Hospital, Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaPurpose The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs (setting A:without artificial intelligence (AI), setting B: with AI) and specialist doctors (setting C) using handheld devices. The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.http://www.e-ultrasonography.org/upload/usg-24172.pdfintelligent handheld ultrasound devicecommunity residentsnon-expert general practitionercarotid plaqueplaque-reporting and data system
spellingShingle Pei Sun
Hong Han
Yi-Kang Sun
Xi Wang
Xiao-Chuan Liu
Bo-Yang Zhou
Li-Fan Wang
Ya-Qin Zhang
Zhi-Gang Pan
Bei-Jian Huang
Hui-Xiong Xu
Chong-Ke Zhao
Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
Ultrasonography
intelligent handheld ultrasound device
community residents
non-expert general practitioner
carotid plaque
plaque-reporting and data system
title Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
title_full Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
title_fullStr Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
title_short Intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non-expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations: a prospective and parallel controlled trial
title_sort intelligent handheld ultrasound improving the ability of non expert general practitioners in carotid examinations for community populations a prospective and parallel controlled trial
topic intelligent handheld ultrasound device
community residents
non-expert general practitioner
carotid plaque
plaque-reporting and data system
url http://www.e-ultrasonography.org/upload/usg-24172.pdf
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