Retention Curves for Pediatric and Neonatal Intubation Skills After Simulation-Based Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Clinical Skills Training
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Maintaining proficiency in critical procedures like pediatric and neonatal intubation is vital for patient outcomes.
• Competency degradation after initial training necessitates understanding optimal retention intervals and training modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the retention of pediatric and neonatal intubation skills after training on simulated or live tissue models.
• To assess how competency changes at 6, 18, and 52 weeks post-training.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design involved 171 clinicians trained using American Heart Association protocols on live feline or simulated feline models.
• Participants were assessed at 6, 18, and 52 weeks post-training.
• Performance was analyzed using validated instruments and repeated measures ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Cognitive retention scores significantly decreased over time (P = 0.000).
• Affect and self-efficacy retention scores declined significantly at 18 and 52 weeks but remained stable at 6 weeks.
• Higher prior experience correlated with better retention scores (P < 0.003).

Conclusions:

• Performance retention of pediatric and neonatal intubation skills diminishes post-training.
• Refresher training is suggested to maintain competency.
• Retraining intervals should consider individual provider experience levels.