Knowledge gained by pediatric residents after neonatal resuscitation program courses

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medical Education
• Neonatal Resuscitation Training

Background:

• Previous Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) evaluations showed good knowledge retention.
• Limited data exists on participant performance across specific neonatal resuscitation steps.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding knowledge retention related to distinct resuscitation phases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate knowledge acquisition and retention in pediatric residents post-NRP course.
• To specifically assess knowledge performance across the different steps of neonatal resuscitation.

Main Methods:

• An 80-item questionnaire, based on the AHA/AAP NRP manual, was administered.
• Twenty-five pediatric residents completed the questionnaire pre-course, immediately post-course, and at a 6-month follow-up.
• Statistical analysis compared knowledge scores at the three time points and across resuscitation steps.

Main Results:

• Correct answer percentages significantly increased from pre-test (37.6%) to post-test (94.1%).
• Knowledge retention decreased at 6 months (62.7%) but remained significantly above pre-test levels.
• Performance varied significantly among the four neonatal resuscitation steps throughout the study.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric residents demonstrate high initial knowledge gain from NRP courses.
• Knowledge retention is only partial over a 6-month period.
• Variability in performance across resuscitation steps suggests areas for improved teaching methods.