High-fidelity simulation in airway management training: results from the AIR-MASTER-SIM randomised study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care

Background:

• Effective endotracheal intubation training is crucial for medical students.
• Direct laryngoscopy, the traditional method, can be challenging for novices.
• Videolaryngoscopy offers indirect glottic visualization, potentially aiding early training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the acquisition of airway management skills in medical students trained with direct laryngoscopy versus videolaryngoscopy.
• To evaluate the impact of training method on intubation success, procedure time, and complications in a simulated environment.

Main Methods:

• Prospective, randomized, comparative simulation-based study.
• Fourth-year medical students trained in direct laryngoscopy or videolaryngoscopy.
• Assessment in a high-fidelity simulation environment evaluating cognitive, procedural, and attitudinal competencies.

Main Results:

• Videolaryngoscopy group achieved 98.0% intubation success rate versus 7.9% for direct laryngoscopy.
• Videolaryngoscopy was associated with fewer attempts, shorter procedure times, and fewer complications.
• Trainees using videolaryngoscopy reported lower stress and greater perceived control.

Conclusions:

• Videolaryngoscopy facilitates the early acquisition of airway management skills in medical students.
• Improved visualization and shared viewing may contribute to better procedural performance.
• Videolaryngoscopy shows promise as an effective tool in simulation-based airway management education.