Simulation-based randomized trial of medical emergency cognitive aids.

BACKGROUND: Medical emergencies are complex and stressful, especially for the young and inexperienced. Cognitive aids (CA) have been shown to facilitate management of simulated medical emergencies by experienced teams. In this randomized trial we evaluated guideline adherence and treatment efficacy in simulated medical emergencies managed by residents with and without CA. METHODS: Physicians attending educational courses executed simulated medical emergencies. Teams were randomly assigned to manage emergencies with or without CA. Primary outcome was risk reduction of essential working steps. Secondary outcomes included prior experience in emergency medicine and CA, perceptions of usefulness, clinical relevance, acceptability, and accuracy in CA selection. Participants were grouped as "medical" (internal medicine and neurology) and "perioperative" (anesthesia and surgery) regarding their specialty. The study was designed as a prospective randomized single-blind study that was approved by the ethical committee of the University Duisburg-Essen (19-8966-BO). TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS, DRKS00024781. Registered 16 March 2021-Retrospectively registered, http://www.drks.de/DRKS00024781 . RESULTS: Eighty teams participated in 240 simulated medical emergencies. Cognitive aid usage led to 9% absolute and 15% relative risk reduction. Per protocol analysis showed 17% absolute and 28% relative risk reduction. Wrong CA were used in 4%. Cognitive aids were judged as helpful by 94% of the participants. Teams performed significantly better when emergency CA were available (p < 0.05 for successful completion of critical work steps). Stress reduction using CA was more likely in "medical" than in "perioperative" subspecialties (3.7 ± 1.2 vs. 2.9 ± 1.2, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-fidelity simulation study, CA usage was associated with significant reduction of incorrect working steps in medical emergencies management and was characterized by high acceptance. These findings suggest that CA for medical emergencies may have the potential to improve emergency care.

A beginner's view of end of life care on German intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about importance and implementation of end-of-life care (EOLC) in German intensive care units (ICU). This survey analyses preferences and differences in training between "medical" (internal medicine, neurology) and "surgical" (surgery, anaesthesiology) residents during intensive care rotation. METHODS: This is a point-prevalence study, in which intensive care medicine course participants of one educational course were surveyed. Physicians from multiple ICU and university as well as non-university hospitals and all care levels were asked to participate. The questionnaire was composed of a paper and an electronic part. Demographic and structural data were prompted and EOLC data (48 questions) were grouped into six categories considering importance and implementation: category 1 (important, always implemented), 2 (important, sometimes implemented), 3 (important, never implemented) and 4-6 (unimportant, implementation always, sometimes, never). The trial is registered at the "Deutsches Register für klinische Studien (DRKS)", Study number DRKS00026619, registered on September 10th 2021, www.drks.de . RESULTS: Overall, 194/ 220 (88%) participants responded. Mean age was 29.7 years, 55% were female and 60% had scant ICU working experience. There were 64% medical and 35% surgical residents. Level of care and size of ICU differed significantly between medical and surgical (both p < 0.001). Sufficient implementation was stated for 66% of EOLC questions, room for improvement (category 2 and 3) was seen in 25, and 8% were classified as irrelevant (category 6). Areas with the most potential for improvement included prognosis and outcome and patient autonomy. There were no significant differences between medical and surgical residents. CONCLUSIONS: Even though EOLC is predominantly regarded as sufficiently implemented in German ICU of all specialties, our survey unveiled still 25% room for improvement for medical as well as surgical ICU residents. This is important, as areas of improvement potential may be addressed with reasonable effort, like individualizing EOLC procedures or setting up EOLC teams. Health care providers as well as medical societies should emphasize EOLC training in their curricula.