Interactive Computerized Educational Modules on Choking in Children for Health Professional Students

TitleInteractive Computerized Educational Modules on Choking in Children for Health Professional Students
Faculty/College/UnitMedicine
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2008
Completion03/31/2009
Project Summary

Foreign body aspiration and ingestion is a common occurrence in the pediatric population that is serious and potentially fatal. In 2005, the National Safety Council reported that choking was the fourth leading cause of accidental death in children (National Safety Council, 2005). Within the medical field, many health professionals unfortunately still have a lack of understanding regarding the proper diagnosis and treatment of foreign body aspiration and ingestion. Thirty percent of children with bronchial foreign bodies are initially misdiagnosed with asthma, croup or upper respiratory tract infections (Lau, K. 200 I). When a child has aspirated or ingested a foreign body, timely diagnosis is vital in reducing pulmonary and/or esophageal injuries and possible death. Planned interactive computer modules will be created for health professional students to grasp important clinical scenarios of potentially lethal foreign body aspiration and ingestion; this should improve diagnostic acumen and thus reduce the morbidity for children who choke.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2008/2009
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorJeffrey Ludemann
Year 1: Funded Amount2,600
Year 1: Team Members

Jeffrey Ludemann, Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine
Paul Moxham, Program Director, Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine
Andrew Thamboo, Medical Student III, Faculty of Medicine
Derry Dance, Medical Student III, Faculty of Medicine