Effect of Simulation on PALS Training

Patient simulation is a new and expanding technology that has proven effective as a teaching tool in various clinical settings, but data on pediatric simulation is lacking. Mock resuscitation scenarios have been shown in prior studies to be effective for improving knowledge, skill, and confidence in pediatric housestaff. Our objective is to assess the utility of a training program utilizing a human patient simulator of an infant as a teaching tool for pediatric housestaff training in resuscitation skills. We hypothesize that mock resuscitation exercises performed by pediatric housestaff on a patient simulator will result in improved performance on test scenarios when compared to the same training on a standard manikin.