Related Experiment Videos
A randomized, prospective, multisite comparison of pediatric prehospital training methods
Nels D Sanddal1, Teri L Sanddal, Jeri D Pullum
1*Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, Bozeman, MT; †Iowa Emergency Medical Services for Children, Des Moines, IA; ‡Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena, MT; §Wyoming Office of Emergency Medical Services, Cheyenne, WY; ∥Utah Emergency Medical Services for Children, Salt Lake City, UT.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|February 6, 2004
Summary
Interactive CD-ROM training for prehospital pediatric continuing education showed improved performance compared to traditional methods. Written knowledge scores did not differ significantly between groups.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Pediatric Care
Background:
- Continuing education is vital for prehospital providers.
- Evaluating novel training methods like CD-ROM is essential for improving pediatric emergency care.
- Traditional train-the-trainer models are standard but may have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of interactive CD-ROM versus train-the-trainer methods for prehospital pediatric continuing education.
- To assess differences in knowledge and performance outcomes between training modalities.
- To evaluate the potential of CD-ROM for enhancing pediatric emergency care training.
Main Methods:
- Prospective trial across 12 sites involving EMS agencies.
- Participants randomly assigned to either CD-ROM or train-the-trainer instruction.
- Pre- and post-training assessments included written exams and videotaped performance scenarios.
Main Results:
- The CD-ROM group demonstrated significant improvements in combined and performance scores.
- No significant differences in written knowledge scores were observed between the groups.
- Interactive CD-ROM training shows potential for enhancing practical skills.
Conclusions:
- Interactive CD-ROM training is a promising method for improving performance in prehospital pediatric care.
- The study design offers a model for future multisite EMS education research.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.