Examining novice anaesthesia trainee simulation performance: a tale of two clusters.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation Studies
• Performance Analysis

Background:

• Understanding learner performance differences is crucial for optimizing medical education.
• This pilot study examines a technique to contextualize performance variations in simulated clinical scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore cluster analysis for identifying homogenous performance groups in simulation studies.
• To investigate associations between task load, demographics, and performance clusters.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of two randomized controlled simulation studies.
• Multivariate hierarchical cluster analysis to identify performance clusters.
• Mixed-design ANOVA and chi-squared tests for variable associations.

Main Results:

• Two distinct performance clusters emerged in both technical and non-technical skill simulations.
• Performance differences persisted longer for non-technical skills (speaking up) than technical skills (oxygen desaturation management).
• Initial lower task load reported by high performers in speaking up, but not associated with technical skill performance.

Conclusions:

• Cluster analysis is a viable method for objectively identifying high-performing trainees in simulation.
• Non-technical skills may present greater challenges in teaching and retention compared to technical skills.
• Further research is needed to explore factors influencing performance advantages and their clinical translation.