Using Audience Response Systems to Determine Gaps in Pediatric Environmental Health Knowledge

Background: Pediatricians are often called upon by families to interpret pediatric environmental health (PEH) messages that appear in the media. Use of audience response systems (ARS) in educational workshops has not been tested as a way to assess pediatricians' knowledge about or skills in interpreting such messages.

Objective: To use ARS to measure providers' knowledge regarding 3 PEH concerns (bisphenol A (BPA), teens' UV radiation exposure from tanning booths, and hazards from cell phone use).

Methods: We presented a multi-media workshop using an ARS in different venues: 1) pediatric grand rounds; 2) workshop at the NY Academy of Medicine, and 3) workshop at Pediatric Academic Society 2010. The presentation included questions on baseline knowledge, opinions on relative importance of PEH issues, case scenario responses, and likelihood of using information presented. Workshop participants responded anonymously to multiple-choice questions with ARS devices.

Results: Participants' responses from the 3 sessions were pooled. The majority of participants (n=96) were pediatricians. Responses indicated knowledge gaps in all three topic areas: 93% (88/92) were unaware of the specific human health effects associated with BPA exposure; 74% (29/39) were unaware of the extent of tanning booth use by 17 year old females; 66% (38/58) were unaware of the current evidence regarding cell phone exposure. Although most (73%, (n=90)) reported receiving clinical questions occasionally or frequently about PEH issues in the media, 66% (n=89) reported feeling uncomfortable or unsure of how to respond to those queries. The primary PEH concern was secondhand smoke for >50% of participants. Throughout the sessions, percentages of electronic responses were maintained (95-100%). Feedback on using the ARS technology was positive.

Conclusions: ARS technology helped to identify gaps in PEH knowledge. Adult learners stayed engaged demonstrated by consistent responses throughout the workshop. ARS systems can be further adapted for targeted pediatrician training in PEH.