Understanding the ongoing learning needs of Australian paediatricians: Evaluation of a pilot paediatric video teaching programme.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether pre-recorded video-based lectures (VBLs) covering a range of paediatric topics are an acceptable means of providing ongoing education for consultant and trainee paediatricians in Australia. METHODS: Previous participants (paediatric consultants and junior medical officers) of a neurology outreach teleconference programme offered by a paediatric neurologist between 2017 and 2020 were invited to participate in a multi-specialty pre-recorded video-based education programme. Acceptability was explored by assessing relevance, likelihood of utilising VBL's in the future, uptake and learning activity preferences. The impact of VBLs on confidence, currency and practice was also explored. Additional data including topics of interest, preferred video format, duration, viewing method and frequency of delivery were captured, to better understand participant preferences to inform future efforts. RESULTS: A total of 135 consented; 116 returned baseline; 94 returned follow-up surveys. Preferred learning activities included a live/interactive component. Videos were considered relevant. Preferences for pre-recorded videos improved from ninth to sixth most preferred learning activity post-intervention. VBL convenience and accessibility were valued. Practice was altered in: approach to management, use of treatments, confidence in decision-making, and discussion with families and patients. The average view duration was 16 min. Longer videos yielded slightly lower audience retention rates. For future offerings, the majority endorsed a preference for a 'mixed' video format and duration of 20-40 min, offered monthly. CONCLUSION: Video-based medical education is an appealing and sustainable alternative, given the convenience of unrestricted accessibility, in meeting ongoing learning needs of Australian paediatricians and trainees.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema in enterovirus 71 encephalitis is not uniformly fatal but causes severe morbidity in survivors.

During the Australian summer of 2000/2001, there was an outbreak of enterovirus 71 infection in Sydney. Between December 2000 and May 2001, approximately 200 children presented to Sydney Children's Hospital with hand-foot-and-mouth disease and 18 experienced neurologic complications. Four presented with acute invasive central nervous system disease and severe pulmonary edema. We describe the cardiorespiratory disturbances and intensive care management of these four consecutive children successfully treated for neurogenic pulmonary edema attributed to proven enterovirus 71 infection. All four survived the acute stage of the illness. However, all four have been left with significant debilitating morbidity. Epidemic enterovirus 71 brainstem encephalitis presenting as neurogenic pulmonary edema can be successfully managed in the pediatric intensive care unit but has great potential to yield a large number of handicapped toddlers and become "the poliomyelitis of the 21st century."