Emotional response to a high-fidelity trauma simulation: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation-based Training
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• The emotional climate in simulation sessions significantly affects learning outcomes.
• Positive emotions enhance learning, while negative emotions impair cognitive functions like working memory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the emotional impact of high-fidelity simulation training on anesthesiologists.
• To assess emotions across all simulation phases using standard prebriefing and good judgement debriefing.

Main Methods:

• Observational study with 74 anesthesiologists in simulation-based training.
• Utilized the circumplex model of emotion and the affect grid scale at four distinct stages.
• Employed standardized prebriefing and good judgement debriefing techniques.

Main Results:

• Analysis of affect grid scores from 67 participants.
• Post-debriefing, the polytrauma patient simulation was perceived as significantly more pleasant (P<0.01).
• Participants increasingly perceived the activity as active throughout the simulation (P<0.01).

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity trauma simulation, within a safe environment, is perceived positively and actively by participants.
• Standardized prebriefing and good judgement debriefing contribute to a favorable emotional experience.
• Further research is warranted to determine the learning impact of these emotional outcomes.