Pediatric Knowledge Needs Assessment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted a pilot knowledge needs assessment survey of providers at a general academic emergency department (ED) within the catchment area of an academic, tertiary care children's hospital.

Methods: We developed a 22-question electronic survey that was validated by combined emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine faculty members at the regional children's hospital. Three reminders were sent to the respondent pool at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the initial survey. Reponses were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: A total of 18 surveys were completed. Most respondents were trainees with less than 5 years' experience working in emergency medicine. The most frequently used methods to access information reported by all respondents were websites with a medical or health focus, spending on average 1-5 hours weekly gathering that information. Faculty were more likely to use a laptop or desktop computer to access that information, while trainees were more likely to use a smartphone. All respondents reported that accessible evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and information regarding novel diagnostics and therapeutics in pediatrics were the most relevant items to enhance their clinical practice. Information on pediatric trauma, sepsis, and neurological emergencies were rated as the highest priorities for clinical care in their practice.

Conclusion: Our findings can guide future knowledge needs assessments to develop dissemination and implementation efforts of evidence-based guidelines in the acute care of children in general EDs.

Figure 1.

Pediatric Conditions Rated By Priority To The Respondents’ Clinical Practice Using A 5-Point Likert Scale

Figure 2.

Respondents’ Rating Of Preferred Future Methods For Accessing Information Using A 5-Point Likert Scale