Abstract: TH-PO810
Pediatric Transplantations: Clinical and Training Perspectives Based on a Survey of Pediatric Transplant Fellows
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - 2
October 24, 2024 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 2102 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- Nair, Nikhil, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, United States
- McCulloch, Mignon, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Rondebosch, Western Cape, South Africa
- Raina, Rupesh, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, Ohio, United States
Background
The aim of this survey was to identify the satisfaction and shortcomings that pediatric transplantation fellows have with their education. Additional aims included the identification of strategies and modalities to better improve transplant education during fellowship.
Methods
An online Qualtrics survey composed of 29 questions available in Enlgish and Spainish was distributed to pediatric transplant fellows through various international pediatric and transplant associations. The responses of the online survey was entered into the Microsoft Excel and analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.
Results
A total of 237 physicians responded to the survey with a diverse distribution participants from Europe(38.4%), Asia(30%), the Americas(27.2%), Africa(2.1%) and Ocenaina(2.1%). In regard to overall education, most patients felt they were adequately educated on the important aspects of pre and post transplant care. Content areas fellows felt they were more lacking in education included transition protocols from paediatrics to adult care post transplantation(12.2%), immuno-suppression regimens post-transplantation(10.6%), and side-effects of different immunosuppression regimens post-transplantation(10.6%). In regards to improving the fellow education process, the formats fellows felts were most likely to help included, discussions of fellow’s cases(88.8%), short presentations with open questions(69.2%) and Pro/con discussions(57.0%). Overarching competencies that warranted inclusion and emphasis according to fellows included critical thinking(80.6%), problem solving(76.6%) and leadership skills(69.6%).
Conclusion
This survey provides valuable information in regard to the quality of training and knowledge base from a diverse group current/former pediatric fellows from around the world. The majority of fellows are getting good to above average education for the majority of content areas they are expected to know over the course of their fellowship. Despite this there are still key foundational areas in immunosuppression and post transplant management that can use investigation for new methods for delivery information. The fellows who responded to this survey identified several promising methods for developing new educational content to serve as the foundation for discussion for the development of updated training guidelines.