In-situ simulation-based intervention for enhancing teamwork in the emergency department

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Simulation-based learning enhances communication, teamwork, and protocol familiarity in emergency departments (ED).
• Standardized in-situ simulations are crucial for assessing and improving team performance in real-time clinical environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop standardized in-situ simulations for ED personnel.
• To evaluate the impact of these simulations on team performance during simulated patient care scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-centre study involving 46 participants in two simulation interventions over two weeks.
• Utilized the adapted Simulation Team Assessment Tool (STAT) Score to measure team performance.
• Included debriefing sessions after each simulation.

Main Results:

• Overall STAT scores significantly improved from simulation I (60.5) to simulation II (81.1).
• Significant improvements were observed in airway management (p=0.022) and teamwork (p=0.023) domains.
• Participants performed better in adult versus paediatric simulations, particularly in teamwork (p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• Standardized in-situ simulations lead to statistically significant improvements in ED personnel's clinical management, teamwork, and resource management skills.
• Simulation-based interventions are effective in enhancing team dynamics and performance in emergency settings.
• Further research may explore specific training modules for pediatric emergencies.