Establishing the Knowledge and Skills Necessary in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine: A Systematic Approach to Practice Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the practice analysis undertaken by a task force convened by the American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Sub-board to create a comprehensive document to guide learning and assessment within Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Design: An in-depth practice analysis with a mixed-methods design involving a descriptive review of practice, a modified Delphi process, and a survey.

Setting: Not applicable.

Subjects: Seventy-five Pediatric Critical Care Medicine program directors and 2,535 American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine diplomates.

Interventions: A practice analysis document, which identifies the full breadth of knowledge and skill required for the practice of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, was developed by a task force made up of seven pediatric intensivists and a psychometrician. The document was circulated to all 75 Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship program directors for review and comment and their feedback informed modifications to the draft document. Concurrently, data from creation of the practice analysis draft document were also used to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, was developed by a task force made up of seven pediatric intensivists and a psychometrician. The document was circulated to all 75 Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine fellowship program directors for review and comment and their feedback informed modifications to the draft document. Concurrently, data from creation of the practice analysis draft document were also used to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine content outline, which was sent to all 2,535 American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine diplomates for review during an open-comment period between January 2019 and February 2019, and diplomate feedback was used to make updates to both the content outline and the practice analysis document.

Measurements and main results: After review and comment by 25 Pediatric Critical Care Medicine program directors (33.3%) and 619 board-certified diplomates (24.4%), a comprehensive practice analysis document was created through a two-stage process. The final practice analysis includes 10 performance domains which parallel previously published Entrustable Professional Activities in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. These performance domains are made up of between three and eight specific tasks, with each task including the critical knowledge and skills that are necessary for successful completion. The final practice analysis document was also used by the American Board of Pediatrics Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Sub-board to update the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine content outline.

Conclusions: A systematic approach to practice analysis, with stakeholder engagement, is essential for an accurate definition of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine practice in its totality. This collaborative process resulted in a dynamic document useful in guiding curriculum development for training programs, maintenance of certification, and lifetime professional development to enable safe and efficient patient care.