Objective: The current study examines the feasibility and potential effects of long distance, remote simulation training on team dynamics.
Design: The study design was a prospective study evaluating team dynamics before and after remote simulation.
Subjects: Study subjects consisted of interdisciplinary teams (attending physicians, physicians in training, advanced care practitioners, and/or nurses).
Setting: The study was conducted at nine training sites in eight countries.
Interventions: Study subjects completed 2-3 simulation scenarios of acute crises before and after training with the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness (CERTAIN).
Measurements and main results: Pre- and post-CERTAIN training simulations were evaluated by two independent reviewers utilizing the Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM), which is a 11-item questionnaire that has been validated for assessing teamwork in the intensive care unit. Any discrepancies of greater than 1 point between the two reviewers on any question on the TEAM assessment were sent to a third reviewer to judge. The score that was deemed discordant by the third judge was eliminated. Pre- and post-CERTAIN training TEAM scores were averaged and compared. Of the nine teams evaluated, six teams demonstrated an overall improvement in global team performance following CERTAIN virtual training. For each of the 11 TEAM assessments, a trend toward improvement following CERTAIN training was noted; however, no assessment had universal improvement. 'Team composure and control' had the least absolute score improvement following CERTAIN training. The greatest improvement in the TEAM assessment scores was in the 'team's ability to complete tasks in a timely manner' and in the 'team leader's communication to the team'.
Conclusion: The assessment of team dynamics using long distance, virtual simulation training appears to be feasible and may result in improved team performance during simulated patient crises; however, language and video quality were the two largest barriers noted during the review process.
Keywords: ICU education; Teamwork; resuscitation; simulation; team dynamics.