Familiarity with the clinical environment, achieved by priming, improves time to antibiotic administration in a simulated paediatric sepsis scenario: a randomised control trial.

Aim: The early administration of antibiotics in sepsis reduces mortality and improves outcomes. This randomised control trial evaluated the effect of environmental priming (EP) on healthcare student performance in a simulated paediatric sepsis scenario.

Methods: Medical and nursing students were randomised into primed and unprimed groups.

ACTup: advanced communication training simulation enhanced by actors trained in the Stanislavski system.

Strong communication, empathy and interpersonal skills are crucial to good clinical practice. Actors trained in interpretations of the Stanislavski system draw on their own life experience to develop the character. We hypothesised that simulation enhanced by trained actors would be an ideal way for our senior trainees to develop advanced communication skills.

Child with acute weakness: don't forget the salts.

Case summaryA 10-year-old boy presented with severe progressive generalised weakness on a background of 3 days of diarrhoea and vomiting. Vital signs were normal. Peripheral neurological examination revealed grade 1-2 power in all limbs, hypotonia and hyporeflexia.

How to perform and interpret the sweat test.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening autosomal-recessive disease affecting Caucasians in the western world. The sweat test is the main diagnostic test for CF. It is indicated as part of the clinical assessment for infants that have picked up on the national neonatal screening programme.

How to use… iron studies.

Iron studies are frequently requested in paediatric practice. They are useful both as a diagnostic tool and as a way of monitoring certain conditions, particularly those causing iron overload. This article outlines the physiology of iron metabolism and discusses laboratory aspects of performing iron studies, including factors influencing interpretation.

How to use the videofluoroscopy swallow study in paediatric practice.

In paediatric practice feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties are present in up to 1% of children. Dysphagia is any disruption to the swallow sequence that results in compromise to the safety, efficiency or adequacy of nutritional intake. Swallowing difficulties may lead to pharyngeal aspiration, respiratory compromise or poor nutritional intake.

Calibration of confidence and assessed clinical skills competence in undergraduate paediatric OSCE scenarios: a mixed methods study.

Background: The relationship between confidence and competence in clinical skills development is complex but important. This study aims to determine undergraduate paediatric student confidence in performing three common paediatric clinical skills framed as Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scenarios and to compare this with subsequent assessed performance. The study also aims to explore possible barriers to successful paediatric skills completion.

How to use… a blood film.

The diagnostic relevance of the blood film cannot be underestimated in the assessment of children with suspected primary or secondary haematological conditions. The blood film not only serves as a diagnostic tool but also allows for screening, monitoring of disease progression and therapeutic response in children with a variety of haematological conditions. This article outlines the appearance of normal paediatric and neonatal blood films.

Clinicians' gaze behaviour in simulated paediatric emergencies.

Aim: Differences in the gaze behaviour of experts and novices are described in aviation and surgery. This study sought to describe the gaze behaviour of clinicians from different training backgrounds during a simulated paediatric emergency.

Methods: Clinicians from four clinical areas undertook a simulated emergency.

Fifteen-minute consultation: the child with pica.

Pica is defined as the persistent ingestion of non-nutritive substances for more than 1 month at an age at which this behaviour is deemed inappropriate. It occurs most commonly in children, in patients with learning disabilities and in pregnancy. The aetiology of pica is poorly understood and is probably multifactorial.