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Who's counting? Assessing the effects of a simulation-based training intervention on the accuracy of neonatal heart
Nathan Money1, Natalya Kusheleva2, Susana Ruano2
1Department of Pediatrics, Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health, Staten Island, NY, USA. nmoneydo@gmail.com.
Objective:
To determine if simulation-based medical education could improve pediatric residents' ability to accurately assess neonatal heart rate via auscultation.
Study Design:
Primary outcomes included heart rate accuracy and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) group accuracy, defined as whether a heart rate estimation fell in the appropriate NRP algorithm group. Pediatric residents completed a pre-assessment and then participated in a simulation training intervention on high-fidelity manikins. Residents completed a post-assessment 1 month later.
Results:
Heart rate estimates from 21 pediatric residents showed improved overall heart rate accuracy and NRP group accuracy from 53.6 to 78.7% (p < 0.0001) and 68.3 to 80% (p = 0.0002), respectively. Residents were more likely to overestimate low heart rates and underestimate high heart rates.
Conclusion:
Heart rate simulation-based training significantly improved residents' ability to assess heart rate on high-fidelity neonatal manikins. Providers participating in NRP may benefit by receiving heart rate skills assessment-focused training during an NRP provider course.
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