Simulation Training to Maintain Neonatal Resuscitation and Pediatric Sedation Skills for Emergency Medicine Faculty.

BACKGROUND

Neonatal resuscitations and significant adverse cardiorespiratory events during pediatric sedations are infrequent. Thus, it is challenging to maintain the skills necessary to manage patients experiencing these events. As the pediatric emergency medicine specialty expands, exposure of general emergency medicine physicians to these potentially critical patients may become even more limited. As such, effective training strategies need to be developed. Simulation provides the opportunity to experience a rare event in a safe learning environment, and has shown efficacy in skill acquisition for medical students and residents. Less is known regarding its use for faculty-level learners.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the acceptability, efficacy, and feasibility of a simulation-based educational intervention for emergency medicine faculty on their knowledge, comfort, and perceived competence in neonatal resuscitation and pediatric sedation skills.

METHODS

Eighteen academic emergency medicine faculty participated in a 4-hour educational intervention with high-fidelity simulation sessions focused on neonatal resuscitation (precipitous delivery of a depressed newborn) and adverse events associated with pediatric sedation (laryngospasm and hypoventilation). Faculty also practiced umbilical vein catheterization, video laryngoscopy skills, and reviewed supplies stocked in our pediatric resuscitation cart. A pre- and postintervention evaluation was completed consisting of knowledge and attitude questions. Paired t test analysis was used to detect statistically significant change (P ≤ 0.05).

RESULTS

Results were obtained from 17 faculty members. Simulation training was well accepted pre- and postintervention, and simulation was effective with statistically significant improvement in both knowledge and attitude. This type of event was feasible with 83% of emergency medicine faculty participating.

CONCLUSION

Emergency medicine faculty have limited opportunities to manage neonatal resuscitations and adverse events in pediatric sedations. Simulation training appears to be an effective educational modality to help maintain these important skills.