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Abstract Number: 185

pGALS Training Increases Canadian and Kenyan Physicians’ Confidence in Examining the Musculoskeletal System in Children

Rosie Scuccimarri1, Valeria Valerio 2, Angela Migowa 3, Carol Hitchon 4, Thomas Ngwiri 5, Helen Foster 6 and Ines Colmegna 7, 1McGill University/Montreal Children's Hospital, Montreal, Canada, 2Research Institute of MUHC, Montreal, Canada, 3Aga Khan University Hospital, Montreal, Kenya, 4University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada, 5Gertrude's Children's Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, 6Newcastle, United Kingdom, 7The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal (Lachine), Canada

Meeting: 2020 Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium

Keywords: medical education, musculoskeletal curriculum

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Session Information

The 2020 Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium, originally scheduled for April 29 – May 2, was postponed due to COVID-19; therefore, abstracts were not presented as scheduled.

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2020

Session Title: Poster Session 3

Session Type: ACR Abstract Session

Session Time: 4:15PM-5:15PM

Background/Purpose: pGALS (paediatric Gait Arms Legs Spine) is a simple, validated musculoskeletal (MSK) assessment tool for the school-aged child. Studies have shown physicians lack confidence in the pediatric MSK examination. We evaluated the effect of a pGALS teaching session on enhancing physicians’ confidence in examining the MSK system in children. We compared the impact of the intervention on two culturally distinct groups of physicians. We explored preferred methods of learning and applying pGALS in clinical practice.

Methods: Physicians enrolled in a pGALS workshop in Canada (Quebec) and Kenya (Nairobi) completed anonymous questionnaires on-site before and after the teaching session. Canadian participants were also asked to complete an anonymous electronic follow-up survey 6 months later.

Results: A total of 103 physicians completed the questionnaires (51 Canadian; 52 Kenyan); 68.4% were family physicians (FP), 31.6% were pediatricians (P). Among Canadians, FP and P were similar in number (P 53.2%, FP 46.8%); most Kenyan participants were FPs (88.2%) (p< 0.001). Canadian participants had more years of practice (Canadian:17.2±10.3 vs Kenyan:4.3±3.6, p< 0.0001). MSK examination was previously taught in 98/103 (95.2%); however only 60.8% were taught the MSK exam in children (Canadian:66% vs Kenyan:55.8%, p=n.s). Before the workshop, only 26.5% (26/98) felt ‘confident’ or ‘very confident’ in evaluating the pediatric MSK system (Canadian:28.3% vs. Kenyan:25%, p=n.s). Confidence in examining the MSK exam was significantly lower than that of the following systems: cardiovascular, respiratory or abdominal. Following the teaching session, increased level of confidence was seen, with 88.8% feeling ‘confident’ and ‘very confident” (Canadian:80.4% vs Kenyan:96.2%, p=0.014). Most common barrier identified for its use was that it was time-consuming (Canadian:37.3% vs Kenyan:53.9%, p=n.s). More Kenyan physicians reported that an office poster could facilitate pGALS use (Canadian:51% vs Kenyan:71.2%, p=0.041); a pocket card was suggested equally (Canadian:67.4% vs Kenyan:50%, p=n.s). Over half of participants agreed that web-based demonstrations (Canadian:55.3% vs Kenyan:57.7%; p=n.s) could improve confidence in pediatric MSK examination; workshops were preferred by Canadians (Canadian:72.3% vs Kenyan:46.2%; p=0.004). Only 27.5% (14/51) of Canadian participants responded to a follow-up survey. Among those, improved confidence was maintained in 92.9% (13/14). Most respondents (78.6%, 11/14) were using pGALS in clinical practice and 75% found it ‘useful’ or ‘very useful’ in evaluating MSK symptoms.

Conclusion: Self-perceived confidence in examining the pediatric MSK system was low in both Canadian and Kenyan physicians. pGALS training improved practitioners’ confidence regardless of type of physician, experience or culture. pGALS reminders may be useful to ensure pGALS implementation into clinical practice.


Disclosure: R. Scuccimarri, None; V. Valerio, None; A. Migowa, None; C. Hitchon, None; T. Ngwiri, None; H. Foster, None; I. Colmegna, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Scuccimarri R, Valerio V, Migowa A, Hitchon C, Ngwiri T, Foster H, Colmegna I. pGALS Training Increases Canadian and Kenyan Physicians’ Confidence in Examining the Musculoskeletal System in Children [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72 (suppl 4). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/pgals-training-increases-canadian-and-kenyan-physicians-confidence-in-examining-the-musculoskeletal-system-in-children/. Accessed May 16, 2022.
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