Procedural training opportunities for basic pediatric trainees during a 6-month rotation in a level III perinatal centre in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the procedural training opportunities for basic paediatric trainees in a large tertiary perinatal centre in Australia, to facilitate a realistic expectation of the procedural skills acquired during a 6-month training period.


METHODS
A prospective study in which all neonatal registrars and fellows anonymously documented their opportunities for procedural practice (including IV cannulation, intubation, umbilical lines insertion etc) for each shift during a calender month. Based on the averaged number of each shift type worked in a 6-month rotation, the total exposure to each procedure for one 6-month rotation was calculated.


RESULTS
During a 6-month period, the registrars had the largest number of exposures on IV cannulation (140.54), venous blood sampling (26.78), bag and mask ventilation (17.38), intubation (7.1) and lumbar puncture (6.68). For the fellows, the largest number of exposure was IV cannulation (127.92) followed by intubation (16.53) then venous blood sampling (21.02). Procedural skills to which registrars had little exposure included chest drains, chest compressions, peripherally inserted central vascular lines and placement of oro-gastric tubes.


CONCLUSIONS
There are ample training opportunities for registrars during a 6-month period. Simulation/animal models for rare procedures will be helpful to increase the trainee's procedural competency.
Monash Newborn, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia.
Hazel
H
Ang
Alex
A
Veldman
Anthony
A
Lewis
Elizabeth
E
Carse
Flora Y
FY
Wong
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010500:Perinatology / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data