An active-learning laboratory focused on critical care topics

To describe an active-learning laboratory on critical care topics including advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), rapid sequence intubation (RSI), and toxicology and its effect on students' knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Third year pharmacy students (n = 88) participated in a critical care focused laboratory with four stations focused on ACLS review, ABBOJECT^Ⓡ syringe assembly, ACLS simulations, RSI cases, and toxicology. Prior to the critical care focused skills laboratory, students completed an optional assessment composed of six confidence and eight knowledge questions. After the laboratory, students completed the same confidence and knowledge assessment. Descriptive statistics assessed pre/post-assessment responses. Paired pre/post-assessment Likert data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and paired pre/post-test multiple choice responses were analyzed using the McNemar test.

Of the 88 students in the cohort, 76 students completed both the pre/post-assessments (response rate: 86.4%). Students demonstrated a significant increase in their overall knowledge and confidence scores on the post-assessment. All students successfully assembled an ABBOJECT^Ⓡ syringe. The majority of respondents rated the critical care laboratory as excellent or good with regards to how enjoyable and effective the activity was to help understand critical care topics.

A hands-on, active-learning laboratory devoted to teaching and reinforcing common critical care concepts allowed students to gain knowledge and confidence regarding ACLS, RSI, and toxicology.