Objectives. We assessed pediatric residents’ retention of knowledge and clinical skills according to the time since their last American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support (AHA PALS) certification. Methods. Sixty-four pediatric residents were recruited and divided into 3 groups based on the time since their last PALS certification, as follows: group 1, 0 to 8 months; group 2, 9 to 16 months, and group 3, 17 to 24 months. Residents’ knowledge was tested using 10 multiple-choice AHA PALS pretest questions and their clinical skills performance was assessed with simulation mock code scenarios using 2 different AHA PALS checklists, and mean scores were calculated for the 3 groups. Differences in the test scores and overall clinical skill performances among the 3 groups were analyzed using analyses of variance, χ2 tests, and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. Results. The pediatric residents’ mean overall clinical skills performance scores declined within the first 8 months after their last AHA PALS certification date and continued to decrease over time (87%, 82.6%, and 77.4% for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively; P = .048). Residents’ multiple-choice test scores declined in all 3 groups, but the scores were not significantly different. Conclusions. Residents’ clinical skills performance declined within the first 8 months after PALS certification and continued to decline as the time from the last certification increased. Using mock code simulations and reinforcing AHA PALS guidelines during pediatric residency deserve further evaluation.

Abstract:Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Signifi cant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were signifi cantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were signifi cantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient defi ciencies.