Competency-based pediatric disaster training.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether participation in a competency-based pediatric disaster educational curriculum increases participants' knowledge of how to manage pediatric disaster victims.


METHODS
Pretest/post-test intervention study.


METHODS
Large, urban, academic tertiary hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred twenty-six clinical and nonclinical healthcare employees.


METHODS
Pre-educational and posteducational intervention scores on a 30-item pediatric disaster test.


RESULTS
Participants without prior pediatric disaster training had significant improvements between pre-educational and posteducational intervention test scores (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our competency-based pediatric disaster educational intervention improved the knowledge of most attendees, the majority of whom infrequently care for pediatric patients. This set of pediatric disaster competencies can be used in future formulation of a standardized curriculum.
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Departments of Emergency Medicine (LAC + USC), Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine (CHLA), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Solomon
S
Behar
Senior Research Associate, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
Rita
R
Burke
Associate Professor of Surgery, Trauma Program Director, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Jeffrey
J
Upperman
Director, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Alan L
AL
Nager
D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D054597:Disaster Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence