Do our newly graduated medical doctors have adequate knowledge about neonatal resuscitation?
OBJECTIVE
Neonatal resuscitation should be part of medical school curriculums. We aimed to evaluate medical school graduates' knowledge of neonatal resuscitation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study on the performance of candidates sitting a medical residency exam at Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, in 2004.


METHODS
There were two questions on neonatal resuscitation. One question in the theory test aimed at evaluating basic knowledge on the initial approach towards newly born infants. The question in the practical exam was designed to evaluate the candidate's ability to perform the initial steps of resuscitation and to establish bag-mask ventilation.


RESULTS
Out of 642 candidates from 74 medical schools, 151 (23.5%) answered the theory question correctly. Significantly more physicians from public medical schools in the State of São Paulo answered correctly than did those from other schools in Brazil (52.5% versus 9.2%; p < 0.05). A total of 436 candidates did the practical exam. The grades among graduates from medical schools belonging to the State of São Paulo were significantly higher than among those from other schools (5.9 +/- 2.6 versus 4.1 +/- 2.1; p < 0.001). The grades for the practical question among candidates who had answered the theory question correctly were significantly higher than those obtained by candidates who had given wrong answers (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Medical school graduates' knowledge of neonate resuscitation in the delivery room is quite precarious. Emphasis on neonatal resuscitation training is urgently needed in medical schools.
Carlotti
Ana Paula de Carvalho Panzeri
AP
Department of Childcare and Pediatrics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. carlotti@fmrp.usp.br
Ferlin
Maria Lúcia Silveira
ML
Martinez
Francisco Eulógio
FE
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data