Smartphone technology enhances newborn intubation knowledge and performance amongst paediatric trainees

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neonatal Resuscitation
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Smartphones are prevalent among physicians, yet their educational impact on clinical skills remains unclear.
• Effective training methods for neonatal intubation are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application (NeoTube) in enhancing neonatal intubation knowledge and procedural skills.
• To assess if pre-procedural use of the NeoTube app improves trainee performance in newborn intubation.

Main Methods:

• Paediatric and neonatology trainees completed a knowledge questionnaire and performed manikin-based neonatal intubations.
• Trainees utilized the NeoTube iPhone application for 15 minutes before repeating the assessment.
• Performance was evaluated through questionnaire scores, skill assessments, and intubation duration by blinded reviewers.

Main Results:

• Questionnaire scores significantly improved post-app use (18.5 to 31, P<0.001).
• Procedural skill scores increased (11 to 12.5, P=0.016), and intubation time decreased (39s to 31s, P=0.044).
• A positive correlation was found between specialist training duration and post-app performance.

Conclusions:

• Bedside smartphone application use enhances both knowledge and practical skills in newborn intubation.
• The NeoTube app demonstrates potential for improving procedural skills training at the point of care.
• Mobile technology can effectively supplement traditional methods for clinical skills education.