'Virtual neonatal crash course': quality improvement in neonatal teaching for paediatric trainees.

Abstract

There are limited Foundation Programme posts with rotations in paediatrics. Many junior paediatric trainees therefore start their neonatal jobs, including a mandatory 6-month tertiary neonatal placement during Level 1 training, without prior experience. The aim of this project was to improve trainees' confidence in the practical aspects of neonatal medicine prior to their first neonatal jobs. A virtual course was delivered to paediatric trainees, on the core principles of neonatal intensive care medicine. Trainees' confidence levels in different domains of neonatology were assessed with pre- and postcourse questionnaires, showing a significant improvement in confidence following the course. Trainees' qualitative feedback was also overwhelmingly positive. Overall, there is evidently a desire for supplemental neonatal education for paediatric trainees. The long-term plan to address this is to build upon this course with a transition to face-to-face lectures paired with skills workshops for paediatric trainees in London. What is already known on this topic: What this study adds: How this study might affect research, practice, or policy.