P3D131: Perspectives on Pediatric Critical Care Transport Teams Simulation - Qualitative Analysis of Interviews with Transport Directors in the Multi-center Impacts Transport Simulation Study

Background: Pediatric critical care transport teams are expected to manage the wide spectrum of pediatric high acuity crises. Despite attempts to create national guidelines, most of these programs function in isolation, limited to the region served by their children’s hospital. Transport medical directors may have unique insights into transport team training including opportunities, experiences, and barriers.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted to answer the question: How do transport program directors perceive pediatric critical care transport team education using simulation? Transport program directors and administrators from 12 participating ImPACTS sites were identified as key informants and recruited to participate in 30-minute interviews with trained facilitators via Zoom video conference. A semi-structured 7-question interview guide on the barriers, supports and opportunities presented by critical care transports and the role of transport simulations was used. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis. A grounded theory approach was used to identify themes representing elements of practices, thoughts, and beliefs in an effort to better understand how transport program directors perceive critical care transport team education using simulation.

Results: A total of 11 interviews were conducted with transport program leaders from participating ImPACTS health facilities. Themes on planning simulations, team experience with transport simulations, transport technology use, participant response to simulation training and utility of simulation training were identified. Table 1.

Conclusion: Although transport medical directors acknowledge logistical difficulties with planning simulations, they perceive transport simulations, particularly conducted in situ in a transport vehicle, to be a helpful educational tool for pediatric critical care transport teams. There is some interest in using video communication on transport, but also concern regarding the feasibility and usefulness of technology in this context.