The development of a national pediatric trauma curriculum

Abstract

Background: Educational programs dedicated to pediatric trauma are either not available or comprehensive. Pediatric trauma is thus managed by a range of specialists with training in a variety of related fields. Post-certification fellowships in pediatric medicine all mandate education in the assessment and management of the injured child. The purpose of this study was to develop a blueprint for a national pediatric trauma training curriculum.

Methods: A team of four experts developed content for a national pediatric trauma curriculum and disseminated it to 11 pediatric trauma sites across Canada. The objectives contained both knowledge and skill sets related to the management of the pediatric trauma patients. A multi-tiered Delphi process was used to develop the final content.

Results: All the 11 pediatric teaching centers across the country participated. A final list, representing a consensus of views, was developed in 10 domains through the iterative process of the Delphi technique. The domains for the curriculum included introduction to pediatric trauma and epidemiology, initial management, pediatric airway, shock, thoracic injuries, abdominal and pelvic injuries, spinal and neurological injuries, pediatric head injuries, burns and electrical injuries, and orthopedic injuries.

Conclusion: The Delphi process is an invaluable tool in developing curricula. The pediatric trauma curriculum can be used in teaching hospitals for house staff education and meeting core competencies. The blueprint can be validated further in the future.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rahim A. Valani

RAHIM VALANI is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. He is a co-editor of ‘The Hospital for Sick Children Handbook of Pediatric Trauma.’ He completed his Masters in Medical Education from the University of Dundee. His interests include curriculum development and international health.

Natalie Yanchar

NATALIE YANCHAR is a pediatric general surgeon at IWK Health Center in Halifax, and medical director for IWK Trauma Care. She also chairs the Pediatric Committee of the Trauma Association of Canada (TAC) and the Trauma Committee of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons. As a member of the Accreditation Committee of TAC, she is heavily involved in accreditation of Canadian Trauma Centers and Trauma Systems, with a focus on the pediatric components. In addition to extensive lecturing on pediatric trauma care issues, her research interests lie in injury prevention and development of quality indicators for pediatric trauma care.

Vince Grant

VINCE GRANT is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Calgary. He is the medical director for pediatric trauma at the Alberta Children's Hospitals which is one of two regional trauma centers in the province. Dr. Grant has a strong interest in medical education and simulation, and is also the medical director for the Human Patient Simulation Program.

B. J. Hancock

BJ HANCOCK is dually certified as a pediatric general surgeon and pediatric critical care intensivist. She is the director of Pediatric Trauma Services at Children's Hospital of Winnipeg and chair of the Pediatric Committee for Major Trauma. She is a member of the Health Sciences Center Trauma Steering Committee. She was the co-director of a pediatric emergency medicine trauma fellowship at Children's Hospital of Winnipeg. Dr. Hancock is the Manitoba Provincial Chair of the Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons and is the director of the ATLS® course in Winnipeg.