Core competency in mechanical ventilation: development of educational objectives using the Delphi technique.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to identify and standardize the core clinical knowledge and skills required to care for patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

DESIGN: Prospective survey reaching consensus by the Delphi technique.

SETTING: North American survey conducted anonymously by electronic e-mail.

SUBJECTS: International experts in mechanical ventilation, frontline resident educators, medical education experts, and community intensivists were recruited to participate

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Fourteen panelists participated (ten content experts, three resident educators, one medical education expert, zero community intensivists). Individual panelists generated a total of 200 educational objectives, of which 109 were duplicates. Of the remaining 91 items, 56 met predefined consensus criteria for inclusion in the final set of educational objectives. The educational objectives spanned a broad range of categories, including respiratory physiology, noninvasive ventilation, lung protective ventilation, weaning, and withholding and withdrawing mechanical ventilation. Agreement among panelists on the items included was high (median proportion supporting item inclusion was 88%, range 70%-100%).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a consensus that general resident core competency in mechanical ventilation requires a broad range of knowledge application and skill. These educational objectives may help identify and standardize the educational outcomes related to mechanical ventilation that residents should achieve.