title: Use of cognitive aids in a simulated anesthetic crisis.
abstract: We evaluated empirically the extent to which the use of a cognitive aid during a high-fidelity simulation of a malignant hyperthermia (MH) event facilitated the correct and prompt treatment of MH. We reviewed the management of 48 simulated adult MH scenarios; 24 involving CA 1 and 24 involving CA 2 residents. In the CA 1 group, 19 of the 24 teams (79%) used a cognitive aid, but only 8 of the 19 teams used it frequently or extensively. In the CA 2 group, 18 of the 23 teams (78%) used a cognitive aid but only 6 of them used it frequently or extensively. The frequency of cognitive aid use correlated significantly with the MH treatment score for the CA 1 group (Spearman r = 0.59, P < 0.01) and CA 2 group (Spearman r = 0.68, P < 0.001). The teams that performed the best in treating MH used a cognitive aid extensively throughout the simulation. Although the effect was less pronounced in the more experienced CA 2 cohort, there was still a strong correlation between performance and cognitive aid use. We were able to show a strong correlation between the use of a cognitive aid and the correct treatment of MH.
authors.affiliation: Patient Simulation Center of Innovation at VA Palo Alto Health Care System and the Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94304, USA. kharriso@stanford.edu
authors.forename: T Kyle
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manser
authors.forename: Steven K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gaba
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D000777:Anesthetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017145:Models, Educational; D016544:Patient Simulation
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D003620:Dantrolene