["Difficult intubation" workshops : impact on knowledge and practices].

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Education
• Airway Management

Background:

• Difficult intubation presents ongoing challenges for anesthesiologists.
• Effective airway management training is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of difficult intubation workshops on anesthesiologists' knowledge and clinical practice.
• To identify areas for improvement in difficult airway management protocols.

Main Methods:

• Prospective survey of anesthesiologists attending accredited workshops.
• Multi-stage evaluation using multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and questionnaires before, immediately after, and three months post-workshop.
• Assessment of subjective knowledge, objective knowledge (MCQ scores), and self-reported changes in medical practice and organization.

Main Results:

• Subjective knowledge scores significantly improved three months post-workshop (4.7 to 6.9, P<0.001).
• Objective knowledge scores (MCQ) did not show significant improvement.
• Despite workshop attendance, significant organizational and informational deficits were reported, including lack of difficult airway trolleys (22%), algorithms (66%), and patient information (44%).
• 12% of encountered difficult intubations were unsuccessfully managed post-workshop.

Conclusions:

• Difficult intubation remains a significant clinical issue for anesthesiologists.
• Workshops enhance subjective confidence but not necessarily objective skills in difficult intubation.
• Systemic improvements in difficult airway management organization, protocols, and patient communication are essential.