Pediatric Simulation

Academic Lead: Dr. Jonathan Duff

Pediatric intensivist at the Stollery Children's Hospital and associate professor with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta.

CPR Training in a simulated clinical environment

Despite advances in intensive care medicine over the last several decades, one of the few treatments that has been shown to improve outcomes after a patient's heart stops is high quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The quality of CPR provided, even in hospitals, is often low. Part of the reason for this may be related to how CPR is taught to health-care professionals. In these studies, we are investigating novel methods of teaching CPR. Currently, health-care providers learn CPR in a 4-hour classroom course using very low-technology mannequins. They demonstrate chest compressions in a mannequin placed on the floor in front of them. However, in the hospital, they are required to perform CPR on a patient on a stretcher, in a team of other professionals and in the chaos of a clinical environment. We propose to teach CPR in more high-realism environments in an attempt to improve retention. In addition, we are working on innovative methods to teach CPR for laypeople at home using video game technology. The hope is that with better teaching methods, more people will perform excellent CPR when needed and improve patient outcomes.