Pediatric Seizure Team-based Learning

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Neurology

Background:

• Pediatric seizure is a frequent emergency department presentation with diverse etiologies, ranging from benign febrile seizures to life-threatening conditions.
• Existing educational materials often focus on specific diagnoses or simulation, leaving a gap in comprehensive training for emergency medicine residents.
• This team-based learning (TBL) module addresses the need for a broader understanding of pediatric seizure causes, workup, management, and disposition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance emergency medicine and pediatric resident physicians' knowledge and skills in managing pediatric seizures.
• To provide a structured educational framework covering differential diagnoses, workup strategies, and disposition planning for pediatric seizure presentations.
• To improve resident competency in recognizing and managing specific seizure types, including febrile seizures, status epilepticus, hyponatremic seizures, and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunctions.

Main Methods:

• A classic team-based learning (TBL) format was employed, incorporating learner-responsible content (LRC), individual readiness assessment tests (iRAT), group readiness assessment tests (gRAT) with immediate feedback, and a group application exercise (GAE).
• The TBL session utilized four case studies to explore various pediatric seizure scenarios.
• Verbal feedback was collected from both learners and instructors post-session to assess effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

Main Results:

• Learners and instructors reported high satisfaction with the TBL session, deeming it highly useful for their education.
• Formative feedback indicated the educational activity was successful with minor modifications.
• A key recommendation was to extend the session duration from 60 to 90 minutes to allow for more comprehensive material coverage.

Conclusions:

• Team-based learning is an effective educational strategy for mastering the complexities of pediatric seizure management in emergency medicine residents.
• The TBL module successfully improved resident understanding of pediatric seizure etiologies, diagnostic workup, and disposition planning.
• Further refinement, including adjusted time allocation, can enhance the effectiveness of TBL for pediatric seizure education.