The effectiveness of crisis resource management and team debriefing in resuscitation education of nursing students: A randomised controlled trial.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether integrating a course on crisis resource management principles and team debriefings in simulation training, increases self-efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills of nursing students in resuscitation settings and (ii) which phases contribute the most to these outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Crisis resource management principles have been introduced in health care to optimise teamwork. Simulation training offers patient safe training opportunities. There is evidence that simulation training increases self-efficacy and team efficacy but the contribution of the different phases like crisis resource management principles, simulation training and debriefing on self-efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills is not clear.

DESIGN

Randomised controlled trial in a convenience sample (n = 116) in Belgium. Data were collected between February 2015-April 2015.

METHODS

Participants in the intervention group (n = 60) completed a course on crisis resource management principles, followed by a simulation training session, a team debriefing and a second simulation training session. Participants in the control group (n = 56) only completed two simulation training sessions. The outcomes self-efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills were assessed after each simulation training. An ancillary analysis of the learning effect was conducted.

RESULTS

The intervention group increased on self-efficacy (2.13%, p = .02) and team efficacy (9.92%, p < .001); the control group only increased significantly on team efficacy (4.5%, p = .001). The intervention group scored significantly higher on team efficacy (8.49%, p < .001) compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

Combining crisis resource management principles and team debriefings in simulation training increases self-efficacy and team efficacy. The debriefing phase contributes the most to these effects.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

By partnering with healthcare settings, it becomes possible to offer interdisciplinary simulation training that can increase patient safety.