A Simulation-based Quality Improvement Approach to Improve Pediatric Resident Competency with Required Procedures

INTRODUCTION Pediatric residents report a lack of confidence and competence with procedural skills at graduation. Training programs could benefit from improved approaches to target these needs. Using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement and three Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, we examined the impact of a procedure simulation boot camp on self-reported procedural confidence and competence as well as the longitudinal impacts of these sequential interventions on Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Graduating Resident Survey (GRS) results. METHODS Three rapid cycle interventions were performed in successive academic years. The interventions included 1) increased awareness of available procedural experiences, 2) institution of procedural educational conferences, and 3) implementation of a senior resident procedure boot camp. Senior resident self-reported procedural confidence was measured before and after the boot camp. Procedural competence was measured using the ACGME GRS.  Results: Thirty-two of 34 senior residents (94%) completed the 2016 ACGME GRS, similar to the response rates of 2014 (92%) and 2015 (94%), and 30 of 34 third-year residents participated in the procedure boot camp (88%). Resident confidence and competence with procedural skills improved after the institution of the quality improvement intervention. ACGME GRS-reported competency increased in bag and mask ventilation (77% to 94%), neonatal endotracheal intubation (39% to 69%), peripheral IV placement (10% to 50%), and umbilical catheter placement (35% to 53%). CONCLUSION A quality improvement intervention with three rapid PDSA cycles was successful in improving senior pediatric resident confidence and competence with ACGME required procedural skills.