Determination of Priorities for Lung Transplant Education for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellows.

Abstract

Background: In the United States, a growing number of lung transplants are performed each year, necessitating an increased number of general and transplant pulmonologists skilled in the care of these complex patients. However, pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) fellowships across the country do not universally have dedicated lung transplantation curricula, and there is scarce literature in this area. We describe the generation of a content outline for curriculum development created through modified electronic Delphi methodology.

Objective: To identify "must know" topics in lung transplantation for a graduating PCCM fellows.

Methods: We developed expert consensus on "must know" lung transplant topics and subtopics ("items") for a graduating fellow through three survey rounds from July 2023 to October 2023. Thirty-three panelists were asked to rank author-provided items as "must know," "nice to know," or "not necessary to know" and to generate new items in round 1 to be submitted for ranking in subsequent rounds. "Must know consensus" was defined as ≥50% must know responses.

Results: Survey response and completion rates across rounds were 58-70% and 96-100%, respectively. In round 1, panelists were provided eight topics and 30 subtopics for initial ranking. Panelists generated 82 new items in this round, of which 19 were included in round 2 for ranking after author review, together with one item from round 1 that required reranking. From round 2, only two items required reranking, and these items comprised round 3. Seven topics were identified as "must know": transplant immunology, evaluation of a lung transplant candidate, surgical and peri/postoperative management, rejection, immunosuppression, infections, and other complications, together with 36 subtopics.

Conclusion: Self-identified lung transplantation experts obtained consensus on seven "must know" topics and 36 subtopics in lung transplantation for graduating PCCM fellows. The findings serve as a starting point for future curriculum development.