Teaching rapid sequence intubation to pediatric emergency physicians: a pilot course

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Medical Education
• Airway Management

Background:

• Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a critical procedure in pediatric emergency medicine.
• Effective training is essential for pediatric emergency physicians to safely perform RSI.
• Assessing the impact of educational interventions on physician confidence and knowledge is important.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a pilot course aimed at teaching rapid sequence intubation (RSI) to pediatric emergency physicians.
• To assess the impact of the course on participants' self-assessed knowledge and skills in RSI.
• To determine if formal training enhances physician comfort and understanding of RSI.

Main Methods:

• A pilot course on rapid sequence intubation (RSI) was developed and delivered.
• A questionnaire assessed participants' self-reported knowledge and skills before and after the course.
• Thirteen pediatric emergency physicians (attendings and fellows) participated.

Main Results:

• Participants showed a significant increase in self-assessed knowledge and skills post-course (P < 0.05).
• Improvements were noted in understanding indications, contraindications, agents, and complication management for RSI.
• Physician comfort levels in performing RSI when indicated also significantly increased.

Conclusions:

• A formal educational course can substantially enhance pediatric emergency physicians' self-assessment of their ability to perform rapid sequence intubation.
• The findings suggest that targeted training positively impacts perceived competence in RSI.
• Further investigation is warranted to ascertain if this enhanced self-assessment translates to improved clinical performance.