Basics of Infant Conventional Mechanical Ventilation: An Interactive Animated Teaching Module

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatrics
• Pulmonary Physiology

Background:

• Mechanical ventilation is crucial in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
• Pediatric residents often lack sufficient formal instruction in mechanical ventilation principles.
• A need exists for effective and accessible training tools for NICU healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an interactive computer module for teaching infant pulmonary physiology and mechanical ventilation.
• To assess the effectiveness and learner satisfaction of a self-paced, animated educational tool.
• To determine the impact of the module on knowledge acquisition and retention in pediatric residents.

Main Methods:

• A self-paced, interactive, narrated, and animated computer module was developed.
• Participants completed a pretest, the module, and a posttest.
• Module completion time was 15-20 minutes; knowledge decay was assessed after 4 months.

Main Results:

• Participants preferred the interactive module over PowerPoint presentations.
• Posttest scores were significantly higher for module users compared to the PowerPoint group.
• Evidence of knowledge decay was observed after a 4-month period.

Conclusions:

• The interactive module is an enjoyable, effective, and convenient tool for learning mechanical ventilation.
• Active engagement and self-paced learning enhance knowledge acquisition.
• The module is suitable for pediatric residents and potentially other NICU healthcare professionals.