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CC BY 4.0 · Avicenna J Med
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811702
Original Article

Innovative Blended Learning Curriculum in Noninvasive Ventilation for Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellows

Asil Daoud   *
1   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Detroit Medical Center System, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
,
Cassondra Cramer-Bour    *
1   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Detroit Medical Center System, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
,
Divya Venkat 
1   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Detroit Medical Center System, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
2   Department of Medical Education, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States
3   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States
,
Abdulghani Sankari
1   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Detroit Medical Center System, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States
2   Department of Medical Education, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States
3   Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan, United States
4   Department of Medical Education, Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield, Michigan, United States
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
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Abstract

Introduction

There is a lack of a standardized curriculum for the appropriate use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), which is readily accessible. Management of NIV is a core competency for physicians training in pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM). We present a blended model of instruction that was highly successful in our pilot program.

Methods

The curriculum targeted eight first-year PCCM fellows to assess knowledge and confidence in key competencies of NIV management. After a baseline assessment, fellows engaged in both hands-on instruction and traditional didactics in NIV. Following, fellows were encouraged to use the e-learning modules for enhanced instruction. The modules were designed to cover all major aspects of NIV management and with unique interactive patient cases for both inpatient and outpatient uses of NIV.

Results

Eight first-year PCCM fellows completed the training and responded to the posttest assessment 4 weeks later. The average multiple-choice questions (MCQs) score increased from 13.5 ± 3.2 (54.0%) to 18.4 ± 1.6 (73.6%) and was significant (p = 0.004). A Likert assessment of learner confidence also showed significant improvement across several key competency domains.

Conclusion

This curriculum represents a successful and novel approach to NIV education, a critical but challenging core competency in pulmonary medicine for physicians training in PCCM.

Keywords

noninvasive ventilation - hypoxic respiratory failure - hypercapnic respiratory failure - blended learning - graduate medical education

Note

Dates of earlier presentations: 3/8/2023 at the Association of Pulmonary & Critical Care Program Directors in Portland, Oregon. 5/21/2023 at the American Thoracic Society in Washington, DC.


* Co-first author.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
26 September 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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