Stress Management Training Improves Overall Performance during Critical Simulated Situations: A Prospective...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation-Based Training
• Stress Management

Background:

• High-fidelity simulation enhances learning in stressful scenarios.
• Stress management training can potentially improve performance in simulated critical events.
• The study investigated the efficacy of the Tactics to Optimize the Potential (TOPS) program.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Tactics to Optimize the Potential (TOPS) stress management program on resident performance during high-fidelity simulation.
• To determine if TOPS training reduces stress levels in residents undergoing simulated critical events.

Main Methods:

• Residents were randomized into a TOPS intervention group or a control group for high-fidelity simulation.
• The TOPS group received pre-simulation training and a brief reactivation session.
• Performance was assessed using a composite score; stress levels were measured via Visual Analogue Scale.

Main Results:

• The TOPS group demonstrated significantly higher overall performance scores (59 ± 10) compared to the control group (54 ± 10).
• Residents in the TOPS group experienced a significant reduction in stress levels (median VAS 52%) versus the control group (median VAS 63%).
• The intervention showed a moderate effect size for both performance and stress reduction.

Conclusions:

• Tactics to Optimize the Potential (TOPS) training improves resident performance and decreases stress during high-fidelity simulation.
• The findings suggest that TOPS is a valuable tool for enhancing medical education in simulated critical care settings.
• The feasibility of a brief TOPS reactivation in clinical settings warrants further investigation.