International Consensus on Airway Management Procedures for Distance Simulation: A Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation Technology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Airway management training is crucial but faces limitations in hands-on opportunities.
• Distance simulation offers a potential solution to expand access to technical skills training.
• The suitability of specific airway procedures for remote simulation is not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize airway management procedures amenable to distance simulation.
• To establish consensus among international experts on remote simulation training content.
• To inform the development of standardized distance learning curricula for airway management.

Main Methods:

• A three-round international Delphi study involving 46 airway experts from 20 countries.
• Procedures were proposed and then prioritized using a needs assessment formula.
• Consensus was defined as ≥70% agreement on procedure suitability for distance simulation.

Main Results:

• 54 candidate procedures were consolidated from 464 expert responses.
• 22 airway management procedures achieved ≥70% consensus for distance simulation.
• Key procedures included direct and video laryngoscopic intubation, face mask ventilation, and emergency front-of-neck access.

Conclusions:

• A prioritized list of airway management procedures suitable for distance simulation has been identified.
• The findings encompass both high-frequency essential and low-frequency critical procedures.
• This study provides a foundation for developing standardized distance simulation curricula for airway management training.