title: Student peer teaching in paediatric simulation training is a feasible low-cost alternative for education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The World Health Organization recommends regular simulation training to prevent adverse healthcare events. We used specially trained medical students to provide paediatric simulation training to their peers and assessed feasibility, cost and confidence of students who attended the courses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria were eligible to participate. Students attended two high-fidelity simulation training sessions, delivered by peers, which were videorecorded for evaluation. The attendees then completed questionnaires before and after the training. Associated costs and potential benefits were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From May 2013 to June 2015, 152 students attended the sessions and 57 (37.5%) completed both questionnaires. Satisfaction was high, with 95% stating their peer tutor was competent and 90% saying that peer tutors were well prepared. The attendees' confidence in treating critically ill children significantly improved after training (p < 0.001). The average costs for a peer tutor were six Euros per working hour, compared to 35 Euros for a physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using peer tutors for paediatric simulation training was a feasible and low-cost option that increased the number of medical students who could be trained and increased the self-confidence of the attendees. Satisfaction with the peer tutors was high.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0982-2310
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Lukas P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Mileder
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5209-6169
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goeral
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klebermass-Schrehof
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Francesco S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9993-617X
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.|Centre for the Studies of Asphyxia and Resuscitation, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Georg M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9798-2415
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schmölzer
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Paediatric Intensive Care and Neuropaediatrics, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olischar
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D010379:Peer Group; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000191:economics*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Adverse healthcare events; Medical students; Paediatric simulation training; Peer tutors; Training costs