Pediatric nurse practitioners effective in teaching providers the Asthma Action Plan using simulation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Medical Education
• Respiratory Care

Background:

• Healthcare providers often lack confidence and knowledge in educating patients about the Asthma Action Plan (AAP).
• Inpatient pediatric settings require effective Asthma Action Plan (AAP) education for families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a simulation-based training program on pediatric resident physicians' knowledge of the Asthma Action Plan (AAP).
• To assess the effect of this training on resident physicians' confidence in teaching the Asthma Action Plan (AAP) to patients and families.

Main Methods:

• A simulation-based class was developed and led by pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs).
• The class included didactic instruction, role-playing scenarios with patient/parent actors, and debriefing.
• Twenty-six second-year resident physicians participated in the training at a Midwest academic pediatric hospital.

Main Results:

• Knowledge assessment scores significantly improved from 44.8% pre-simulation to 80.4% post-simulation (p<0.001).
• 80.8% of participants reported increased confidence in teaching the Asthma Action Plan (AAP) after the class.
• All participants perceived the training as beneficial for their clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• A PNP-led simulation class effectively enhances pediatric resident physicians' knowledge of the Asthma Action Plan (AAP).
• This educational approach significantly boosts resident physicians' confidence in educating families about asthma management.
• Simulation-based training is a valuable tool for improving healthcare provider competency in patient education for chronic conditions like asthma.