ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF PEDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION USING THE IN SITU MOCK CODE TOOL

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Clinical Simulation
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Quality Improvement

Background:

• Effective management of pediatric cardiac arrest is critical.
• In situ simulation offers a realistic method to assess team performance in real clinical environments.
• Adherence to established guidelines like Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is essential for optimal patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quality of pediatric cardiac arrest care provided by healthcare teams.
• To assess individual and team performance during in situ mock code simulations.
• To identify areas for improvement in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) based on PALS guidelines.

Main Methods:

• An observational study utilizing in situ mock code simulations of cardiorespiratory arrest.
• Simulations were conducted in various hospital sectors and shifts without prior notification.
• Individual and team performance was evaluated using a questionnaire based on PALS guidelines, followed by a debriefing.

Main Results:

• Fifteen mock codes involved 56 nursing professionals and 11 physicians.
• Identification of cardiac arrest and key interventions like cardiac monitoring and venous access showed variable adherence.
• CPR technique quality, including compression depth, frequency, and ventilation proportion, indicated significant room for improvement, despite good team dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to PALS guidelines during simulated pediatric cardiac arrest was low.
• Significant improvements are needed in the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Regular in situ clinical simulations are recommended to enhance CPR performance in pediatric services.