Perception Precedes Reality: A Simulation and Procedural Bootcamp Improves Residents' Comfort With Transitioning to...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology Training
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• The transition to clinical anesthesiology (CA) training presents challenges due to varied workflows and clinical scenarios.
• New residents require enhanced preparation for operating room procedures and intraoperative problem management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if a standardized introductory bootcamp improves new anesthesiology residents' clinical knowledge and comfort.
• To evaluate the reproducibility of the bootcamp across different institutions.

Main Methods:

• A one-day bootcamp utilizing simulation and task trainers was implemented for rising first-year CA residents.
• Pre- and post-bootcamp surveys measured self-perceived comfort levels.
• The Anesthesia Knowledge Test (AKT) served as a knowledge assessment.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in self-perceived comfort levels was observed post-bootcamp (Pre: 2.04 vs. Post: 3.09, p<0.0001).
• All survey items showed significant improvement, indicating enhanced understanding of procedures and management.
• The bootcamp's positive impact on comfort was consistent across two different institutions.
• No significant difference was found in Anesthesia Knowledge Test (AKT) scores between control and intervention groups.

Conclusions:

• A standardized anesthesiology bootcamp effectively enhances resident comfort and preparedness for clinical practice.
• The bootcamp is a reproducible and valuable educational tool for anesthesiology residency programs.
• While improving comfort, the bootcamp did not significantly impact performance on standardized knowledge tests.