Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
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The goal of this study was to explain some modifications to the Airway Management Trainer intubation head (case) that transform it into a difficult airway intubation head and to compare it with the Airsim intubation head (control). ⋯ The present modifications proposed for the Airway Management Trainer are easy to complete to render it similar to the Airsim for training in difficult airway management.
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In situ simulation within new facilities holds the promise of identifying latent safety threats. The aim of this study was to identify if in situ simulation can also impact important employee perceptions and attitudes. ⋯ In situ simulation exercises before practicing clinically in a new facility can both increase familiarity with new clinical environments and impact important organizational outcomes. Thus, simulation in a new work space can influence factors important to employees, organizations, and patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the development of performance skills in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia simulations with different phantom models.
Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) skills are traditionally obtained by supervised performance on patients, but practice on phantom models improves success. Currently available models are expensive or use perishable products, for example, olive-in-chicken breasts (OCB). We constructed 2 inexpensive phantom (transparent and opaque) models with readily available nonperishable products and compared the process of learning UGRA skills by novice practitioners on these models with the OCB model. ⋯ Training on inexpensive synthetic simulation models with no perishable products permits learning of UGRA skills by novices. The OCB model has disadvantages of containing potentially infective material, requires refrigeration, cannot be used after multiple needle punctures, and is associated with more failures during simulated UGRA. Direct visualization of the target in the transparent model allows the trainee to focus on needle insertion skills, but the opaque model may be more realistic for learning target identification skills required when UGRA is performed on real patients in the operating room.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of expert and novice performance of a simulated transesophageal echocardiography examination.
Training in transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) requires a significant commitment of time and resources on behalf of the trainees and the instructors. Training opportunities may be limited in the busy clinical environment. Medical simulation has emerged as a complementary means by which to develop clinical skills. Transesophageal echocardiography simulators have been commercially available for several years, yet their ability to distinguish experts from novices has not been demonstrated. We used a standardized assessment tool to distinguish experts from novices using a commercially available TEE simulator. ⋯ A simulated transesophageal examination of normal cardiac anatomy in concert with a standardized assessment tool permits ample discrimination between expert and novice echocardiographers as defined for this investigation. Future research will examine in detail the role echocardiography simulators should play during echocardiography training including assessment of training level.
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The authors developed a Standardized Assessment for Evaluation of Team Skills (SAFE-TeamS) in which actors portray health care team members in simulated challenging teamwork scenarios. Participants are scored on scenario-specific ideal behaviors associated with assistance, conflict resolution, communication, assertion, and situation assessment. This research sought to provide evidence of the validity and feasibility of SAFE-TeamS as a tool to support the advancement of science related to team skills training. ⋯ The SAFE-TeamS was sensitive to individual differences and team skill training, providing evidence for validity. It is not clear whether different scenarios measure different skills and whether the scenarios cover the necessary breadth of skills. Use of multiple scenarios will support assessment across a broader range of skills. Future research is required to determine whether assessments using SAFE-TeamS will translate to performance in clinical practice.