In-Situ Simulation Enhances Emergency Preparedness in Pediatric Care Practices

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Primary Care

Background:

• Emergencies frequently occur in primary care settings, necessitating adequate preparedness.
• Pediatric primary care offices must be equipped to manage common emergency situations.
• In-situ simulation offers a realistic training environment for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of in-situ simulation training on emergency preparedness in pediatric primary care.
• To evaluate the confidence levels of primary care staff in managing emergencies post-simulation.

Main Methods:

• In-situ simulation training was conducted in 20 Central Florida pediatric primary care offices.
• Pre- and post-simulation surveys using a five-point Likert scale measured preparedness and confidence.
• Participants evaluated the effectiveness of the simulation training.

Main Results:

• Staff reported significantly enhanced preparedness (2.95 to 4.02, p<0.05) and comfort (3.22 to 4.53, p<0.05) in managing emergencies.
• 100% of participants deemed the simulation effective or extremely effective.
• The training demonstrated a positive impact on perceived emergency management capabilities.

Conclusions:

• In-situ simulation training effectively improved emergency preparedness and staff confidence in pediatric primary care settings.
• The findings suggest simulation is a valuable tool for enhancing readiness for medical emergencies.
• Further research is needed to confirm generalizability and impact on patient outcomes.