Resident Physicians Learn About Endotracheal Intubation

Abstract

Introduction: Endotracheal intubation is essential to secure the airway and enable mechanical ventilation in life-threatening scenarios, making it a critical procedure in emergency medicine and anesthesiology. Objective: To assess the level of knowledge of endotracheal intubation among resident physicians at the Mario Catarino Rivas National Hospital, 2023–2024. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, nonexperimental study with cluster sampling/analysis (k = 5 residency programs). The final sample was n = 82, proportionally distributed by program: Obstetrics and Gynecology (n = 24; 29%), Internal Medicine (n = 19; 23%), Pediatrics (n = 16; 20%), Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, and Pain (n = 16; 20%), and Surgery (n = 7; 9%). A structured 20-item questionnaire coverin technical aspects, indications, contraindications, and complications was administered. Results: 39% (n = 32) showed medium knowledge, 29% (n = 24) low, and 32% (n = 26) high. The Anesthesiology program obtained the highest mean scores. Knowledge increased with years of residency; 100% of fourth-year residents were classified as high. Conclusions: Resident physicians exhibited predominantly medium and low levels of knowledge, underscoring the need to strengthen didactic and supervised hands-on training in airway management.