Training, experience and need of booster courses in neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Survey to pediatricians.

INTRODUCTION: The resuscitation of the newborn in the delivery room requires high capacities and occurs frequently in an unexpected way. Many professionals trained in pediatrics as pediatric residents will work posteriorly in pediatric units with delivery rooms and will perform neonatal resuscitation only occasionally. Skills acquired in practice or resuscitation courses deteriorate over time.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive observational study through a survey to pediatricians trained in neonatology at a tertiary hospital in Madrid, and who completed their residency period between 2009 and 2016. Questions about their training in resuscitation and their usual work in the delivery room.

RESULTS: Out of 179 surveys sent, 140 pediatricians (78,2%) answered it. 73.6% took a training course in neonatal resuscitation during the residency. There was a progressive increase in the number of residents who did the course during the study period. 74.3% have worked after residency in assistance at birth. 40.7% have taken a refresher course in neonatal resuscitation.

CONCLUSIONS: Training in neonatal resuscitation has increased and been consolidated during the training process for pediatric residents. A high percentage of pediatricians work after residency in pediatric units with delivery rooms, less than half of these professionals having been recycled in neonatal resuscitation. Recycling and periodic training seem interesting options to improve the performance of these professionals in the delivery room.