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Research Snapshot Theater: Professional Development and Education, Pediatric I

Building Capacity in Pakistan in Managing Acute and Critically Ill Children Through the PFCCS Course

Monday, March 23, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Central Time
Location: Connections Central - RST 15
Introduction: Delivering effective pediatric acute care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Pakistan is challenged by resource and training constraints. The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) course is designed to equip non-intensivists with essential skills. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation and participant reception of the PFCCS course across multiple centers in Pakistan to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.


Methods: A multi-center, evaluative study was conducted for 14 PFCCS courses held between December 2018 and October 2024 at four major Pakistani healthcare institutions. Data were collected from 387 healthcare professionals (residents 44.1%, physicians 34.8%, nurses 11.1%, others 10%). The evaluation included standardized pre- and post-course knowledge tests, post-course evaluation forms rating content and delivery on a 5-point scale, and a 60-day follow-up survey to assess the application of skills and confidence levels. Pre- and post-test scores were compared using a Paired Samples t-test.


Results: Participants rated the course content and delivery as excellent overwhelmingly. A statistically significant improvement in knowledge was observed, with mean test scores increasing from 54.49% pre-course to 80.36% post-course (p < 0.001). Overall course objectives were reported as successfully achieved, with 98.9% rating the ability to "Prioritize Assessment Needs" as excellent. The 60-day follow-up survey (n=61) revealed that 91.9% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they used the acquired knowledge and skills. Furthermore, 85.5% felt more confident managing critically ill children, and 93.5% were likely or extremely likely to recommend the course to colleagues.


Conclusions: The PFCCS course was successfully implemented in Pakistan and proved to be a highly effective educational tool. It significantly improved the knowledge and self-reported confidence of diverse healthcare professionals in managing critically ill pediatric patients. These findings strongly support the continued and expanded implementation of PFCCS to build critical care capacity within Pakistan and similar LMIC healthcare systems.