Peripheral intravenous line skills among pediatrics and medicine-pediatrics residents at a single tertiary care center

Objectives: To assess pediatrics residents’ self-reported competency in placing peripheral intravenous (IV) lines at baseline; to conduct a peripheral intravenous simulationbased training session for residents; and to measure peripheral intravenous (PIV) competency on manikins following the intervention as well as changes in scores of self-reported knowledge, confidence, and success from baseline. Methods: Pediatrics residents at Arkansas Children’s Hospital participated in the study and completed a baseline survey assessing PIV knowledge, confidence, and success, and then attended a PIV training session in 2011. Training included a didactic session followed by demonstration on manikins. Residents completed an immediate postintervention survey and a follow-up survey at 3 months. Primary outcomes were successful demonstrations of PIV skills as assessed by a PIV competency checklist. Secondary outcomes were increased self-reported scores of knowledge, confidence, and success with PIV placement. Forty-two residents completed the pre-intervention survey. Thirty-two finished the educational session and completed the initial survey. Thirty-one completed the survey at 3 months. Results: Thirty (94%) residents were successful in demonstrating PIV competency. Participants’ self-reported knowledge and confidence in PIV line placement improved significantly after this educational session, both immediately after and at 3 months, but overall confidence remained low, and there was no increase in success. Conclusions: Pediatric residents’ self-reported competency with PIV placement is low. PIV training achieves residents’ competency on a manikin, and improves perceived knowledge and confidence scores but overall confidence remains low. Such training should be supported by opportunities to place PIVs on real patients.