The effect of high-fidelity simulation on knowledge and confidence in critical care training: An integrative review

Patient outcomes in critical care have long been linked to provider experience, but with older providers retiring, it is becoming difficult to maintain a high-level of experience among the ICU staff. Innovative training methods that improve providers' knowledge and confidence may be able to make up for deficiencies in clinical experience. High-fidelity simulation training mimics clinical experience and has been extensively studied in the training of procedural skills, but what is the effect of this type of training on knowledge and confidence? To answer this question, we conducted a review of the literature for studies examining the effect of simulation training on knowledge and confidence among critical care providers. Seventeen papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria and a systematic approach was used to review the papers and synthesize the data. All 17 studies demonstrated an improvement in knowledge and while only 13 of the included studies examined the effect on provider confidence, all found an improvement. We conclude that high-fidelity simulation is a useful tool for improving knowledge and confidence among critical care providers and merits consideration for inclusion in critical care training programs.