Exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of simulated root cause analysis for radiology training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Radiology

Background:

• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education mandates annual safety events for radiology residents.
• Root cause analysis (RCA) is a common method, but actual events are infrequent, necessitating alternative training.
• Simulated RCA offers a practical solution for resident education in patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a simulated RCA curriculum for radiology residents.
• To determine if simulated RCA meets Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education safety requirements.
• To evaluate the impact of simulated RCA on resident knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A simulated RCA curriculum was developed and implemented for radiology residents.
• A realistic case scenario (CT-guided lung biopsy complication) was used for the 1-hour training session.
• Pre- and post-event surveys using a 5-point Likert scale measured changes in comfort, knowledge, and issue identification.

Main Results:

• Eleven of 18 residents (61%) participated in the simulated RCA event.
• Post-event surveys showed significant increases in comfort with RCA participation (6% to 44%, P=.04).
• Knowledge of RCA events (6% to 56%, P=.01) and ability to identify system issues (6% to 44%, P=.04) significantly improved.

Conclusions:

• Simulated RCA events are a feasible and effective method for meeting ACGME safety improvement requirements.
• This training enhances resident soft skills crucial for patient care and safety.
• Simulations provide a valuable alternative to actual RCA for resident education.