Bronchiolitis Simulation Module in the Pediatric Preclerkship Educational Exercises (PRECEDE) Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Medical Simulation
• Respiratory Illness

Background:

• Acute bronchiolitis affects 90% of children under 2, causing 200,000 deaths annually.
• Current management focuses on respiratory support and prevention.
• Effective assessment and escalation of care are crucial for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of high-fidelity simulation on pediatric clerkship students' management of respiratory distress in acute bronchiolitis.
• To assess performance improvement after simulation-based training and debriefing.

Main Methods:

• A high-fidelity infant simulator was used to model progressing respiratory distress in acute bronchiolitis.
• Pediatric clerkship students underwent simulation, followed by debriefing and repeat simulation.
• Performance was measured using a weighted checklist, and student feedback was collected.

Main Results:

• Student performance improved significantly from 57% to 86% (p < .05) after simulation and debriefing.
• Donning personal protective equipment was the most common missed item pre- and post-simulation.
• The simulation course was well-received, with requests for more opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training effectively improved pediatric students' management of respiratory distress in acute bronchiolitis.
• Performance-based assessment tools can provide valid evidence of learning.
• Increased simulation opportunities and faculty diversity are recommended for future training.