Paramedic self-efficacy and skill retention in pediatric airway management.

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the effect of pediatric airway management training on paramedic self-efficacy and skill performance and to determine which of several retraining methods is superior.

Methods: A total of 2,520 paramedics were trained to proficiency in pediatric bag-mask ventilation (BMV) and endotracheal intubation (ETI) on mannequins. Subjects were a convenience sample of 245 (10% of original cohort) presenting for voluntary retraining.

Effect of out-of-hospital pediatric endotracheal intubation on survival and neurological outcome: a controlled clinical trial.

Context: Endotracheal intubation (ETI) is widely used for airway management of children in the out-of-hospital setting, despite a lack of controlled trials demonstrating a positive effect on survival or neurological outcome.

Objective: To compare the survival and neurological outcomes of pediatric patients treated with bag-valve-mask ventilation (BVM) with those of patients treated with BVM followed by ETI.

Design: Controlled clinical trial, in which patients were assigned to interventions by calendar day from March 15, 1994, through January 1, 1997.

Education of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Medical Personnel in Pediatrics: Report of a National Task Force.

The Pediatric Education Task Force has developed a list of major topics and skills for inclusion in pediatric curricula for EMS providers. Areas of controversy in the management of pediatric patients in the prehospital setting are outlined, and helpful learning tools are identified. [Gausche M, Henderson DB, Brownstein D, Foltin GL, for the Pediatric Education Task Force: Education of out-of-hospital emergency medical personnel in pediatrics: Report of a National Task Force.