Citation

Wesson HK, Plant V, Helou M, Wharton K, Fray D, Haynes J, Bagwell C. J. Pediatr. Surg. 2017; 52(7): 1173-1176.

Affiliation

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA, USA. Electronic address: Charles.bagwell@vcuhealth.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2017.01.003

PMID

28132766

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric injuries are a leading cause of death in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this, there are few formal pediatric-specific trauma educational initiatives available in LMICs. While new educational tools are being developed to address this, they have not been piloted in LMICs. In Jamaica, pediatric injuries are a leading cause of hospital admission but care is limited by a lack of training in triage and stabilization. Our objective was to implement and evaluate a pediatric trauma course in Jamaica to determine the impact this may have on further course development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pediatric trauma course was conducted at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica sponsored by the Children's Medical Services International, a nonprofit organization. Participants took part in six didactic modules, an infant airway intubation skills session, and three clinical simulation scenarios. Participants completed a postcourse survey at the conclusion of the course.

RESULTS: Twenty-five participants including surgical, pediatric, and emergency medicine residents from regional- and district-level hospitals in Jamaica participated in the course. Participants viewed the course favorably. Strengths included good review of pediatric trauma physiology, short modules, hands-on practice, and applicable clinical scenarios. Using a Likert-type rating scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being minimal and 10 being very knowledgeable, precourse knowledge was ranked as 5.9, which increased to 9.2 after the course. Using a similar scale, the precourse comfort level to run a pediatric trauma was 4.9 and increased to 8.5 following the course.

DISCUSSION: Implementation of this pilot pediatric trauma course was feasible and successful through collaboration with the hosting regional hospital. The lack of formal pediatric training can be overcome by a course such as this which includes both didactics and hands-on clinical patient simulations. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Jamaica; Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); Patient simulation; Pediatric trauma; Trauma education