Moving Along: Team Training for Emergency Room Trauma Transfers (T²ERT²)

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Trauma Care
• Teamwork and Collaboration

Background:

• Effective interprofessional teamwork is critical in high-stakes environments like trauma transfers.
• Simulation-based training (SBT) offers a controlled environment to practice and refine team dynamics.
• Assessing the immediate impact of SBT on team attitudes and behaviors is essential for validating its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the immediate effects of high fidelity simulation-based training (SBT) on interprofessional trauma transfer teams.
• To assess changes in participants' team-based attitudes and behaviors following the simulation training.
• To determine if SBT influences readiness for interprofessional learning and teamwork skills.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, pre-/postintervention design was employed.
• High fidelity SBT with structured debriefing was conducted using a two-scenario format.
• Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS), Interprofessional Teamwork (IPT) questionnaire, and Teamwork Assessment Scales (TAS) were administered.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in all 15 items of the Interprofessional Teamwork (IPT) questionnaire.
• Observer and peer ratings on the Teamwork Assessment Scales (TAS) showed statistically significant improvements.
• Two items on the Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) demonstrated statistically significant positive changes.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional trauma team training using SBT effectively modifies attitudes towards team-based competencies.
• Simulation-based training facilitates the learning of team-based skills within a controlled environment.
• Improvements in simulated team skills and attitudes represent a vital initial step for real-world clinical application and enhanced patient transfer care.