Improving emergency medicine resident pediatric lumbar puncture procedural performance through a brief just-in-time video intervention

Background: Emergency medicine (EM) trainee comfort level with lumbar puncture (LP) has decreased over time due to changing practice guidelines, particularly amongst pediatric patients. We implemented a “just in time” (JIT) brief educational video based on a previously published LP Performance Scoring Checklist to improve trainee efficiency and competence in LP performance. Methods: Our pilot quasi-experimental study took place January-June 2022 within a large, academic Midwestern emergency department (ED) with an established 3-year EM residency program. All 9 interns performed a timed diagnostic LP on an infant LP model in January, scored according to the LP Performance Scoring Checklist. In June, interns repeated the timed LP procedure directly after watching a brief educational video based on major checklist steps. The study was deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board. Results: All interns completed both assessments. At baseline, interns had logged performance of median 2 (IQR 0–5) LPs and spent 12.9 (10.3–14.4) minutes performing the procedure. Post-intervention, interns had logged an additional median 2 (0–5) LPs and completed the procedure faster with an average time of 10.3 (9.7–11.3) minutes (p = 0.004). A median of 5 (4–7) major steps were missed at baseline, compared to 1 (1–2) at time of post-intervention assessment (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Development of a brief educational video improved efficiency and competency amongst our intern class in performing an infant LP when viewed Just-In-Time. Similar efforts may improve education and performance of other rare (or decreasing in frequency) procedures within EM training.