Evaluation of a Novel Simulation Curriculum With the Segmented Model in Pediatric Cardiovascular Education.

Objective: The need to develop the full range of knowledge, skills, and professionalism poses new challenges for pediatric cardiovascular education. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a novel simulation curriculum with the segmented model for pediatric cardiovascular residents. Materials and Methods: First, the simulation course was designed according to a prior survey and based on a human patient simulator setting. Then, another 55 residents were randomly selected and assigned to participate in a simulation course (about acute fulminant myocarditis in children), either in the experimental group or the control group. Taking full advantage of the simulation education, the simulation case in the experimental group was divided into three segments and included a micro-debriefing at the end of each segment. The three segments were independent but together formed the whole case. It was designed through three cycles of running and debriefing, and more challenging tasks were gradually proposed to residents. The case in the control group was not split and included only one case running and debriefing. The assessments of the residents' knowledge, skills, professionalism performance, and satisfaction feedback from residents were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of the course. Results: In total, 44 residents completed the whole experimental period, including 23 participants in the experimental group and 21 participants in the control group. The pre-course knowledge assessment scores of the two groups were comparable, while the mean post-course score in the experimental group was 82.61 ± 17.38, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (50.48 ± 18.57, p < 0.01). The mean skills assessment score of residents in the experimental group was 84.17 ± 6.01, which was significantly higher than the control group (54.50 ± 5.72, p < 0.01). In terms of the professionalism assessment, the residents in the experimental group achieved better performance than those in the control group in all aspects (respect, privacy, communication, responsibility, and cooperation) (p < 0.05). Satisfaction feedback from residents showed that self-confidence regarding knowledge mastery in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in the evaluations of the teacher's performance (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The novel simulation curriculum with the segmented model helps residents achieve better performance in terms of knowledge, skills, and professionalism while improving self-confidence. It has some value in pediatric cardiovascular education and is worthy of further promotion.

Association between social supports and negative emotions among pediatric residents in China: The chain-mediating role of psychological resilience and burnout.

Background: Chinese pediatricians are facing challenges, and there is a need to examine the issue of negative emotions, namely, stress, anxiety and depression, among front-line pediatric residents in clinical settings. Understanding the current situation and influencing factors of negative emotions among pediatric residents in China and exploring the formation mechanism can lay a foundation for psychological interventions. Methods: A total of 138 pediatric residents in the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, were surveyed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS). Results: (1) The incidence of abnormal stress, anxiety, and depression among pediatric residents was 18.8%, 47.8%, and 47.8% respectively. (2) Negative emotions were significantly negatively correlated with social supports and psychological resilience, and positively correlated with burnout. (3) The chain-mediating effect of resilience and burnout between social supports and negative emotions was significant. Conclusion: Psychological resilience and burnout played a chain-mediating role between social supports and negative emotions. Measures should be taken to improve the mental health of Chinese pediatric residents.