The neonatal resuscitation algorithm organized cart is more efficient than the airway-breathing-circulation organized...

Although there is consensus on the resuscitation of newborns, there is no standardization on how resuscitation equipment should be organized. This might lead to difficulty and inefficiency in retrieval of the right equipment during resuscitation. The neonatal resuscitation carts organized in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) algorithm might result in more efficient retrieval of resuscitation equipment.

To compare user preference and lengths of time required to retrieve standard resuscitation equipment from an NRP Cart versus a generic storage drawer.

A prospective, randomized, controlled, and crossover trial was conducted during simulation-based NRP provider courses in the Accident & Emergency Training Centre from September to October 2013. The mean time of accurate equipment retrieval and ease of use, which was rated by the participants using a five-point Likert scale (1=most difficult, 5=easiest to use), were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test because of right skew.

A total of 55 individuals participated in this study. The mean length of time required for equipment retrieval from the NRP Cart was significantly less than that from the drawer (Z=-3.90, P<0.01, median=36.23 s, interquartile range=97 s). In general, the NRP Cart was 32% faster than the drawer when extensive resuscitation equipment was required. All the participants rated the NRP Cart as easier to use than the drawer, with a median score of 4 for NRP Cart and 3 for the drawer (Z=-4.10, P<0.01, interquartile range=2).

The NRP Cart was superior to the generic drawer in terms of the speed of equipment retrieval and user acceptability.