In Situ Operating Room-Based Simulation: A Review.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Operating room-based in situ training provides a realistic simulation environment.
• This training method has the potential to address unique challenges within the actual surgical setting.
• Existing literature explores its application across various surgical specialties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the existing literature on operating room-based in situ training in surgery.
• To synthesize findings on the effectiveness and applications of this training modality.
• To identify gaps in the current evidence base.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE.
• The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome (PICO) criteria and the Kirkpatrick model were utilized.

Main Results:

• Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria from 308 initial database hits.
• In situ simulation is employed for diverse purposes and settings, showing potential advantages over traditional simulation.
• Limited comparative studies exist; one randomized controlled trial found minimal differences between in situ and off-site simulation.

Conclusions:

• In situ simulation theoretically offers advantages, particularly for system-wide or environmental threats.
• The demonstrated efficacy of operating room-based in situ training requires further robust evidence.
• More research is needed to clearly establish the benefits and effectiveness of this training approach.