Integrating Team Training in the Pediatric Life Support Program: An Effective and Efficient Approach?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Ineffective teamwork and communication are leading causes of adverse events in hospitals.
• Interprofessional teamwork training is crucial for fostering a culture of patient safety.
• Current training methods and associated costs for teamwork vary significantly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of incorporating teamwork training into an existing Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) program.
• To assess the impact of this integrated training on interprofessional teamwork and collaboration.
• To determine the effect on perceptions of teamwork and collaboration among healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study design was employed.
• Participants underwent standard Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) recertification.
• An intervention group received additional TeamSTEPPS (R) 2.0 Essentials training, including didactic instruction, video critique, and role-playing exercises.
• Data on teamwork and collaboration perceptions were collected and analyzed using statistical tests (χ, Mann-Whitney U, t tests).

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher perceptions of teamwork and collaboration.
• Improved situational awareness was reported by the intervention group.
• Participants in the intervention group felt more confident in their ability to contribute to team decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Integrating brief team training into established PALS programs is a viable strategy.
• This approach is cost-effective and sustainable for interprofessional team development.
• The training positively influences the overall culture of patient safety within healthcare settings.