An Advanced Boot Camp for Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellows

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology
• Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

• Managing pediatric crises requires specialized skills and confidence.
• Graduating pediatric anesthesiology fellows need enhanced learning and preparation for practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and assess a constructivist learning environment curriculum for pediatric anesthesiology fellows.
• To improve fellows' learning, orientation, and preparation for independent practice.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year advanced boot camp involved 50 pediatric anesthesiology fellows from 9 institutions.
• Training utilized high-fidelity simulation, standardized patients, self-reflection, and facilitated discussions.
• An anonymous survey assessed knowledge, self-confidence, case complexity appropriateness, and transition usefulness via Likert scale.

Main Results:

• 98% of fellows completed the survey, reporting positive perceptions of the boot camp.
• Median scores for knowledge, confidence, case complexity, and usefulness were high (≥4.5) in both years.
• The interquartile range for appropriate case complexity narrowed in 2018, suggesting improved curriculum calibration.

Conclusions:

• The advanced boot camp equipped fellows with tools and strategies for a successful transition to independent practice.
• A narrower interquartile range in scenario complexity assessment in 2018 indicates potential curriculum refinement.