Visiting Jack: Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Virtual Home Visit Curriculum With a Child With Medical Complexity

There are limited training opportunities for pediatricians in caring for children with medical complexity (CMC) in the home and community. Prior studies have described a lack of comfort caring for CMC among pediatric residents.

1) To evaluate the impact of participation in a virtual home visit curriculum on pediatric residents' confidence, knowledge, and application of knowledge in complex care; 2) to explore changes in perspectives relating to the care of CMC after participation in the curriculum.

This was a prospective pre-post intervention study in 2019 with first-year pediatric residents, using quantitative and qualitative methods. The intervention, co-created with a family partner, was an online video-based curriculum followed by an in-person seminar. Pre- and postassessments were compared using paired t tests. Follow-up interviews and focus groups were performed 5 to 8 weeks after training. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Twenty-four residents (100%) participated. Residents reported increased confidence in all aspects of complex care presented in the curriculum, with significant increase in knowledge and application of knowledge (all P < .001). Twelve residents (50%) participated in a follow-up interview or focus group. Four themes were identified: 1) recognizing prior attitudes toward complexity, 2) new mental framework for complex care at home, 3) drivers of behavior change, and 4) commitment to change practice.

Participation in this curriculum was associated with increased confidence, knowledge, and application of knowledge in complex care outside of the hospital. Qualitative findings align with transformative learning theory, lending insight into effective approaches to complex care training.