A Modified Delphi Study for Curricular Content of Simulation-Based Medical Education for Pediatric Residency Programs

Abstract

ObjectiveWe sought to establish core knowledge topics and skills that are important to teach pediatric residents using simulation-based medical education (SBME). MethodsWe conducted a modified Delphi process with experts in pediatric SBME. Content items were adapted from the American Board of Pediatrics certifying exam content and curricular components from pediatric entrustable professional activities (EPAs). In round 1, participants rated 158 items using a four-point Likert scale of importance to teach through simulation in pediatric residency. A priori, we defined consensus for item inclusion as ≥ 70% rated the item as extremely important and exclusion as ≥ 70% rated the item not important. Criteria for stopping the process included reaching consensus to include and/or exclude all items, with a maximum of 3 rounds. ResultsA total of 59 participants, representing 46 programs and 25 states participated in the study. Response rates for the three rounds were 92%, 86% and 90%, respectively. The final list includes 112 curricular content items deemed by our experts as important to teach through simulation in pediatric residency. Seventeen procedures were included. Nine of the seventeen EPAs had at least 1 content item that experts considered important to teach through simulation as compared to other modalities. ConclusionsUsing consensus methodology, we identified the curricular items important to teach pediatric residents using SBME. Next steps are to design a simulation curriculum to encompass this content. What’s NewIt is unknown what content pediatric residents should learn through SBME. Consensus on which core material is important to teach through SBME to supplement existing curricula will allow residency training programs to utilize simulation most effectively.