title: Determining content for a simulation-based curriculum in pediatric emergency medicine: results from a national Delphi process.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  By the end of residency training, pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) residents are expected to have developed the confidence and abilities required to manage acutely ill children. Acquisition of competence requires exposure and/or supplemental formal education for critical and noncritical medical clinical presentations. Simulation can provide experiential learning and can improve trainees' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The primary objective of this project was to identify the content for a simulation-based national curriculum for PEM training.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited participants for the Delphi study by contacting current PEM program directors and immediate past program directors as well as simulation experts at all of the Canadian PEM fellowship sites. We determined the appropriate core content for the Delphi study by combining the PEM core content requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP). Using the Delphi method, we achieved consensus amongst the national group of PEM and simulation experts. The participants completed a three-round Delphi (using a four-point Likert scale).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates for the Delphi were 85% for the first round and 77% for second and third rounds. From the initial 224 topics, 53 were eliminated (scored <2). Eighty-five topics scored between 2 and 3, and 87 scored between 3 and 4. The 48 topics, which were scored between 3.5 and 4.0, were labeled as "key curriculum topics."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have iteratively identified a consensus for the content of a national simulation-based curriculum.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine,Montreal Children's Hospital,McGill University,Montreal,QC.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bank
authors.affiliation: §University of Calgary,Calgary,AB.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: †McGill Centre for Medical Education,McGill University,Montreal,QC.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.affiliation: †McGill Centre for Medical Education,McGill University,Montreal,QC.
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bhanji
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D000070316:Pediatric Emergency Medicine; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*
keywords: Delphi; curriculum; pediatric emergency medicine; simulation