• Nels D Sanddal, Teri L Sanddal, Jeri D Pullum, Katrina B Altenhofen, Susan M Werner, James Mayberry, D Breck Rushton, and Drew E Dawson.
• *Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, Bozeman, MT; †Iowa Emergency Medical Services for Children, Des Moines, IA; ‡Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena, MT; §Wyoming Office of Emergency Medical Services, Cheyenne, WY; ∥Utah Emergency Medical Services for Children, Salt Lake City, UT.
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2004 Feb 1; 20 (2): 94-100.

ObjectiveResults of prehospital pediatric continuing education using train-the-trainer and CD-ROM training methods were compared to each other and to a control group. The null hypothesis was that no differences would be found in pretraining and posttraining measurements of knowledge and performance by either training method.MethodsThis was a prospective trial involving 12 sites. Random selections were made from ambulance service lists provided by 3-state emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. Preintervention and postintervention (12-month) measurements included a written examination and 2 performance scenarios videotaped for independent panel evaluation. Training was either an interactive CD-ROM or standard classroom instruction using a train-the-trainer model. Mean differences in written, performance, and combined scores were analyzed.ResultsDifferences were noted in the combined and performance scores for the CD-ROM intervention group. No differences were noted in written measurements between or among the groups.ConclusionIn this small sample, interactive CD-ROM training shows promise for improving performance. The research design, with additional guards against sample size attrition, may provide a model for multisite EMS education research.

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