[Simulation in healthcare during COVID-19: An experience with residents in Anaesthesiology]

The restrictions to stop COVID-19 pandemic have had a negative impact in simulation. However, it is imperative to develop new strategies that facilitate healthcare education.

To describe a simulation in healthcare based on the learning of non-technical skills and performed under the restrictions of COVID-19 pandemic.

Quasi-experimental study of an educational activity performed through simulation with Anaesthesiology residents in November 2020. Twelve residents participated in 2 consecutive days. A questionnaire was filled related to the performance of non-technical skills that encompasses leadership, teamwork and decision making. The complexity of the scenarios and the non-technical skills results obtained between the 2 days were analysed. Advantages and challenges were documented when a clinical simulation is performed under COVID-19 restrictions.

The global performance of the teams improved when comparing first and second day (79.5 vs. 88.6%, P < .01). Leadership was the worst section rated, however, was the one that showed the best improvement (70 vs. 87.5%, P < .01). The complexity of the simulation cases had no relation with the group performance in leadership and teamwork but affected task management results. General satisfaction was over 75%. The main challenges to develop the activity were the technology required to adapt virtuality to simulation and the time spent for the preparation of it. No cases of COVID-19 were reported within the first month after the activity.

Clinical simulation can be done in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, obtaining satisfactory learning results but requiring the adaptation of institutions to the new challenges it implies.