Simulation-Based Curricula for Enhanced Retention of Pediatric Resuscitation Skills: A Randomized Controlled Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation-Based Learning
• Pediatric Resuscitation

Background:

• Resuscitation skills decay rapidly, within 4 months post-training.
• Optimal educational strategies for long-term skills retention are not well-established.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification is a standard for pediatric resident training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an adjunct simulation-based curriculum on resuscitation skills retention 8 months after PALS certification.
• To determine if deliberate practice and debriefing enhance long-term skill maintenance.
• To test the hypothesis of improved retention in an intervention group.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized controlled study involving first-year pediatric residents.
• Intervention group received simulation-based training 4 months post-PALS; control group received no intervention.
• Comparison of simulation-based assessment and multiple-choice test scores at baseline and 8 months.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated significantly improved overall resuscitation skills retention at 8 months (P=0.037).
• Cognitive knowledge retention was also significantly greater in the intervention group (P=0.049).
• No significant differences were observed in individual skills station performance.

Conclusions:

• Resuscitation skills and knowledge retention from PALS courses are often suboptimal.
• Adjunct simulation-based curricula effectively extend retention of resuscitation skills beyond 4 months.
• Simulation-based training is a valuable tool for reinforcing critical care skills in pediatric residents.