Pediatric Residents' Intubation Competency Through Simulation-Based Training: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Simulation Training

Background:

• Pediatric residents often have limited exposure to critical intubation procedures.
• Simulation-based training offers a safe environment to enhance procedural skills.
• A quality improvement initiative partnered with anesthesiology to address this training gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance pediatric residents' endotracheal intubation skills.
• To assess the impact of simulation-based training on resident competency.
• To improve knowledge and confidence in pediatric airway management.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative involved a didactic seminar and a four-station skills workshop.
• Participants included 24 pediatric and Med-Peds residents.
• Outcomes measured included pre- and post-intervention knowledge (MCQs), confidence surveys, and skills assessments.

Main Results:

• Mean MCQ scores significantly improved from 11.75 to 16.4 (p < 0.001).
• Self-reported confidence in airway management increased from 3.6 to 7.2 (p < 0.001).
• Confidence in bag-mask ventilation and intubation showed significant improvements (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training effectively improved resident knowledge and confidence in pediatric airway management.
• The initiative demonstrated potential for enhancing short-term competency in pediatric intubation.
• Further evaluation of long-term skill retention is planned for Stage 2.