Use of simulation as a needs assessment to develop a focused team leader training curriculum for resuscitation teams.

BACKGROUND: Many inpatients experience cardiac arrest and mortality in this population is extremely high. Simulation is frequently used to train code teams with the goal of improving these outcomes. A key step in designing such a training curriculum is to perform a needs assessment. We report on the effectiveness of a simulation-based training program for residents designed using unannounced in-situ simulation cardiac arrest data as a needs assessment. METHODS: In order to develop the curriculum for training, a needs assessment was done using in-situ simulation. Prior to instruction, residents were assessed in their ability to lead a simulated resuscitation using a standardized checklist. During the intervention phase, residents participated in didactic and team training. The didactic training consisted of pharmacology review, ACLS update and TeamSTEPPS training. Residents took turns as code team leader in three simulation sessions. Rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP) was employed as part of simulation sessions. All residents returned, for post-intervention assessment. Mean pre-post test scores were analyzed to determine if there was a significant difference. RESULTS: Twenty-seven residents participated. Mean pre-training assessment score was 47.6 (95% CI 37.5-57.9). The mean post-training assessment score was 84.4 (95% CI 79.0-89.5). The mean time to defibrillation after pads were placed in scenario with shockable rhythm decreased from 102.2 seconds (95% CI 74.0-130.5) to 56.3 (95% CI 32.7-79.8). CONCLUSION: Using unannounced in-situ cardiac arrest simulations as a needs assessment, a simulation-based training program was developed that significantly improved resident performance as team leader. Future work is needed to determine if this improvement translates into patient benefits and is sustainable. However, in-situ simulation is a promising tool for curriculum development.

Socioeconomic Variables of Patients with Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To characterize socioeconomic status (SES) variables of spasmodic dysphonia (SD) patients and determine their impact on voice outcomes after treatment with botulinum toxin. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SD patients treated with botulinum toxin for the past 10 years (July 2007-July 2017) for whom sufficient SES and outcome data were available were included. Spearman rho nonparametric correlation coefficients were calculated to determine if SES variables were significantly associated with self-perceived vocal quality. Voice Handicap Index-10 was recorded. Patients were asked at each visit to rate their best voice quality during the period of previous botulinum toxin injection on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best. RESULTS: Fifty SD patients were included. Average age was 60.3 ± 11.4 years, with men representing 24% of patients. Ethnicity was 74% Caucasian and 26% non-Caucasian. Median household income was $76,564 ± $24,782. Sixty-six percent of patients were employed. Adductor SD was diagnosed in 82% of patients and abductor SD in 12%. Best voice out of 10 was 7.23 ± 2.0. Mean Voice Handicap Index-10 score was 25.14 ± 9.4. Patients were treated with botulinum toxin for 165.9 ± 101.9 months. Age, gender, median household income, ethnicity, and employment status were not significantly associated with self-perceived vocal quality. Patients with longer disease duration self-reported a better voice (P = 0.02, r = 0.387). CONCLUSIONS: SES variables were not associated with voice outcomes for SD patients treated with botulinum toxin. Patients self-reported improved voice with longer duration of disease.

Continuous monitoring of brain dynamics with functional near infrared spectroscopy as a tool for neuroergonomic research: empirical examples and a technological development.

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive, safe, and portable optical neuroimaging method that can be used to assess brain dynamics during skill acquisition and performance of complex work and everyday tasks. In this paper we describe neuroergonomic studies that illustrate the use of fNIRS in the examination of training-related brain dynamics and human performance assessment. We describe results of studies investigating cognitive workload in air traffic controllers, acquisition of dual verbal-spatial working memory skill, and development of expertise in piloting unmanned vehicles. These studies used conventional fNIRS devices in which the participants were tethered to the device while seated at a workstation. Consistent with the aims of mobile brain imaging (MoBI), we also describe a compact and battery-operated wireless fNIRS system that performs with similar accuracy as other established fNIRS devices. Our results indicate that both wired and wireless fNIRS systems allow for the examination of brain function in naturalistic settings, and thus are suitable for reliable human performance monitoring and training assessment.

Optical brain monitoring for operator training and mental workload assessment.

An accurate measure of mental workload in human operators is a critical element of monitoring and adaptive aiding systems that are designed to improve the efficiency and safety of human-machine systems during critical tasks. Functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy is a field-deployable non-invasive optical brain monitoring technology that provides a measure of cerebral hemodynamics within the prefrontal cortex in response to sensory, motor, or cognitive activation. In this paper, we provide evidence from two studies that fNIR can be used in ecologically valid environments to assess the: 1) mental workload of operators performing standardized (n-back) and complex cognitive tasks (air traffic control--ATC), and 2) development of expertise during practice of complex cognitive and visuomotor tasks (piloting unmanned air vehicles--UAV). Results indicate that fNIR measures are sensitive to mental task load and practice level, and provide evidence of the fNIR deployment in the field for its ability to monitor hemodynamic changes that are associated with relative cognitive workload changes of operators. The methods reported here provide guidance for the development of strategic requirements necessary for the design of complex human-machine interface systems and assist with assessments of human operator performance criteria.

Hemodynamic correlates of visuomotor motor adaptation by functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

The development of rehabilitation engineering technologies such as the design of smart prosthetics necessitates a deep understanding of brain mechanisms engaged in ecological situations when human interact with new tools and/or environments. Thus, we aimed to investigate potential hemodynamic signatures reflecting the level of cognitive-motor performance and/or the internal or mental states of individuals when learning a novel tool with unknown properties. These markers were derived from functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIR) signals. Our results indicate an increased level of oxy-hemoglobin in prefrontal sensors associated with enhanced kinematics during early compared with late learning. This is consistent with previous neuroimaging studies that revealed a higher contribution of prefrontal areas during early compare to late adaptation learning. These non-invasive functional hemodynamic markers may play a role in bioengineering applications such as smart neuroprosthesis and brain monitoring where adaptive behavior is important.

Test-retest reliability of isokinetic dynamometry for the assessment of spasticity of the knee flexors and knee extensors in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess test-retest reliability of the peak resistance torque and slope of work methods of spasticity measurement of the knee flexors and extensors in children with cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Test-retest reliability study. SETTING: Pediatric orthopedic hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen children with CP. INTERVENTION: Knee extensor and flexor spasticity was assessed with an isokinetic dynamometer using passive movements at 15 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees/s taken 1 hour apart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Peak resistive torque and work were calculated. The relative and absolute test-retest reliability was calculated by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots, respectively. RESULTS: Relative reliability was good (ICC>.75) for slope-of-work and peak resistance torque measurements at a velocity of 180 degrees/s, whereas reliability of peak torque measurements was decreased (ICC<.51) at slower velocities for both muscle groups. The 95% limits of agreement of Bland-Altman plots contained most data points for both methods, but the width of the limits of agreement were wide. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of spasticity of the knee extensors and flexors in children with CP using peak-resistance torque at 180 degrees/s and the slope of work method has acceptable relative test-retest reliability. However, the absolute reliability of spasticity data should be considered cautiously.

Assessment of wavelet analysis of gait in children with typical development and cerebral palsy.

The objective of this study was to examine the use of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) on surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals acquired from the lower extremity muscles during gait in children with typical development (TD) and cerebral palsy (CP). This was done to explore the possibility of developing a quantitative assessment scale of motor function based on time-frequency information. An initial study was conducted on retrospective gait data from three children, matched in gender and in anthropometric variables but with differing levels of walking ability. EMG data were extracted from five lower extremity muscles to assess the degrees of differentiation. The data were processed using the CWT to derive an average scalogram, from which the instantaneous mean frequency (IMNF) was calculated. Principal component analysis was used to assess the differences between the curves. Preliminary results indicated that for select lower extremity muscles, there was a significant deviation in the IMNF curves in the child with CP as compared to the child with TD. Furthermore, as motor impairment increased, total percent explained variance to the TD curves decreased. This suggests that it might be possible to derive a physiologically based quantitative index for assessing motor function and for assessing clinical treatments in CP using the wavelet analysis.