TY - JOUR
T1 - Cassava flour slurry as a low-cost alternative to commercially available gel for obstetrical ultrasound
T2 - a blinded non-inferiority trial comparison of image quality
AU - Aziz, A.
AU - Dar, P.
AU - Hughes, F.
AU - Solorzano, C.
AU - Muller, M. M.
AU - Salmon, C.
AU - Salmon, M.
AU - Benfield, N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
PY - 2018/8
Y1 - 2018/8
N2 - Objective: To evaluate the quality of ultrasound images obtained with cassava flour slurry (CFS) compared with conventional gel in order to determine objectively whether CFS could be a true low-cost alternative. Design: Blinded non-inferiority trial. Setting: Obstetrical ultrasound unit in an academic medical centre. Population or Sample: Women with a singleton pregnancy, undergoing anatomy ultrasounds. Methods: Thirty pregnant women had standard biometry measures obtained with CFS and conventional gel. Images were compared side-by-side in random order by two blinded sonologists and rated for image resolution, detail and total image quality using a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Ratings were compared using paired t-tests. Participant and sonographer experience was measured using five-point Likert scales. Main outcome measures: Image resolution, detail, and total image quality. Participant experience of gel regarding irritation, messiness, and ease of removal. Results: We found no significant difference between perceived image quality obtained with CFS (mean = 6.2, SD = 1.2) and commercial gel (mean = 6.4, SD = 1.2) [t (28) = −1.1; P = 0.3]. Images were not rated significantly differently for either reviewer in any measure, any standardized image or any view of a specific anatomic structure. All five sonographers rated CFS as easy to obtain clear images and easy for patient and machine cleanup. Only one participant reported itching with CFS. Conclusions: CFS produces comparable image quality to commercial ultrasound gel. The dissemination of these results and the simple CFS recipe could significantly increase access to ultrasound for screening, monitoring and diagnostic purposes in resource-limited settings. Tweetable abstract: Low-cost homemade cassava flour slurry creates images equal to commercial ultrasound gel, improving access.
AB - Objective: To evaluate the quality of ultrasound images obtained with cassava flour slurry (CFS) compared with conventional gel in order to determine objectively whether CFS could be a true low-cost alternative. Design: Blinded non-inferiority trial. Setting: Obstetrical ultrasound unit in an academic medical centre. Population or Sample: Women with a singleton pregnancy, undergoing anatomy ultrasounds. Methods: Thirty pregnant women had standard biometry measures obtained with CFS and conventional gel. Images were compared side-by-side in random order by two blinded sonologists and rated for image resolution, detail and total image quality using a 10-cm visual analogue scale. Ratings were compared using paired t-tests. Participant and sonographer experience was measured using five-point Likert scales. Main outcome measures: Image resolution, detail, and total image quality. Participant experience of gel regarding irritation, messiness, and ease of removal. Results: We found no significant difference between perceived image quality obtained with CFS (mean = 6.2, SD = 1.2) and commercial gel (mean = 6.4, SD = 1.2) [t (28) = −1.1; P = 0.3]. Images were not rated significantly differently for either reviewer in any measure, any standardized image or any view of a specific anatomic structure. All five sonographers rated CFS as easy to obtain clear images and easy for patient and machine cleanup. Only one participant reported itching with CFS. Conclusions: CFS produces comparable image quality to commercial ultrasound gel. The dissemination of these results and the simple CFS recipe could significantly increase access to ultrasound for screening, monitoring and diagnostic purposes in resource-limited settings. Tweetable abstract: Low-cost homemade cassava flour slurry creates images equal to commercial ultrasound gel, improving access.
KW - Global health
KW - low-resource settings
KW - ultrasound image quality
KW - ultrasound media
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U2 - 10.1111/1471-0528.15123
DO - 10.1111/1471-0528.15123
M3 - Article
C2 - 29328522
AN - SCOPUS:85049848511
SN - 1470-0328
VL - 125
SP - 1179
EP - 1184
JO - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
IS - 9
ER -