Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
About 10% of newborns require some assistance to begin breathing at birth, and about 1% need extensive resuscitative measures to survive. Optimal care provided during the first few minutes of life plays a major role in reducing morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). Therefore, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) currently mandates the completion of formal training, via the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP), by all pediatric residents. The term ‘fidelity’ is generally used to refer to the degree of realism of a simulation. Low-fidelity simulator (LFS) mannequins allow practitioners to demonstrate basic knowledge and technical and behavioral skills with verbal prompts from the instructors. High-fidelity simulators (HFS) provide the trainee with the cues necessary to interact with the patient as they would in the real clinical environment. However, there are few studies describing the use of HFS in teaching neonatal resuscitation. The aim of this study is to inform the supporting and financing bodies as to whether selecting a training method that is more costly (HFS) is justified by a better outcome of improving pediatric trainees’ neonatal intubation skills and retention of these skills towards enhanced patient care.
Who can participate?
Pediatric residents in their first year of postgraduate training in pediatrics recruited from two hospitals (KAUH and MCH) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
What does the study involve?
Participants first receive a lecture reminding them of the basic anatomy of the neonatal airway and the steps required for intubating a newborn (inserting a breathing tube). Participants are then randomly allocated to use either high fidelity or low fidelity mannequins for the training of intubation. Participants are then evaluated on the same day of the training course on their newborn intubation skills and again 9-12 months after the training course.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants receive training on mannequins to improve their newborn intubation skills. There are no risks for the participants.
Where is the study run from?
King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Saudi Arabia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2017 to April 2018
Who is funding the study?
King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Heidi Al-Wassia
halwassia@kau.edu.sa
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Heidi Al-Wassia
ORCID ID
Contact details
King Abdulaziz University
Department of Pediatrics
Jeddah
80215
Saudi Arabia
+966 (0)12 6401000 ext 20208
halwassia@kau.edu.sa
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
(HA-02-J-008)
Study information
Scientific title
The effect of high versus low fidelity simulators on the acquisition and retention of technical skills necessary for neonatal intubation by pediatric residents: a randomized trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Null hypothesis:
There is no difference in junior pediatric residents’ technical skills needed to intubate a neonate as a function of training modality: high-fidelity or low-fidelity simulation.
Alternate hypothesis:
Training pediatric residents on high fidelity mannequins will result in improved pediatric residents’ skills required to intubate a neonate compared to low fidelity mannequins.
Ethics approval
Unit of Biomedical Ethics Research Committee, 28/12/2016, ref: 471-16
Study design
Randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Intubation of neonates
Intervention
This is a randomized non-blinded trial where pediatric residents will be randomly allocated to either a training course to teach technical skills of intubating a newborn using a high fidelity or low fidelity mannequin simulator. For randomization, the trialists will use computer-generated random numbers. The randomization allocation cards will be placed in serially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. The trialists will ask all residents in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) and Maternity and Children Hospital (MCH) to participate after signing a consent form.
Pediatric residents from the two centers will first be assessed at baseline using high fidelity simulator where they will manage a standardized simulated scenario of a neonate requiring intubation. After recruitment subjects will be randomly assigned to training on either a high fidelity or low fidelity simulator. A training course will be designed to improve the intubation skills of pediatric residents at KAUH and MCH using the assigned simulators. The high fidelity mannequin (SimBaby, Laerdal Medical Corporation, USA) is an advanced infant patient simulator with realistic airway anatomy and clinical functionality. It features airway opening by appropriate maneuvers, suctioning suction motion, anatomical landmarks of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways, and chest rise and oxygen saturation. It utilizes software-based medical models, allowing the instructor to focus on interacting with learners rather than operating the simulator. The low fidelity mannequin is a standard plastic mannequin (ALS Baby, Laerdal Medical Corporation, USA) that allows passing ET tube and demonstrates chest rises in response to successful intubation. It does not, however, feature anatomical landmarks of the neonatal airway or give physiological cues such as oxygen saturation, heart rate and changes in CO2 detector color.
Intervention type
Device
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Effectiveness of using HFS compared to LFS in improving the technical skills in intubating a neonate, measured by the successful passage of endotracheal tube beyond the vocal cord after the training course and 9-12 months after
Secondary outcome measures
1. Time taken to intubate is measured using stopwatch seconds at baseline, after the training course and 9-12 months after
2. Correct placement of the tube in a neonate is measured using a validated 13-item checklist score at baseline, after the training course and 9-12 months after
Overall trial start date
01/10/2017
Overall trial end date
01/04/2018
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Pediatric residents in their first year of postgraduate training in pediatrics recruited from two hospitals (KAUH and MCH) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2. Both male and female residents
Participant type
Health professional
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
17 residents from KAUH and 20 from MCH
Participant exclusion criteria
Does not meet inclusion criteria
Recruitment start date
01/06/2017
Recruitment end date
01/10/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Saudi Arabia
Trial participating centre
King Abdulaziz University Hospital
King Abdulaziz University
PO Box 80215
Jeddah
21589
Saudi Arabia
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
King Abdulaziz University
Alternative name(s)
King Abdulaziz University of Saudi Arabia, KAU
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
government non-federal
Location
Saudi Arabia
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
The results of the trial will be submitted to either neonatology journals or medical education journals as soon as they are ready for publication.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Heidi Al-Wassia (halwassia@kau.edu.sa).
Intention to publish date
01/09/2018
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list