Self-reported changes in attitude and behavior after attending a simulation-aided airway management course.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of a simulator-aided course for airway management on participants' daily clinical airway management practice.


METHODS
Survey instrument.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
88 participants who attended a simulator-aided course for airway management.


METHODS
Six mo after 4 consecutive courses with identical structure and content, participants were mailed a standardized questionnaire to answer.


RESULTS
Of 88 participants queried, 48 completed the questionnaire. Ninety-two percent had experienced a difficult airway situation in the 6 mo after the course. Fourteen (29%) evaluated predictors for a difficult airway more carefully. Fourteen (29%) established structural changes within their departments. Ten (21%) participants acquired new technical airway devices. The mean estimated impact on the participants' rating for lectures, skill stations, and scenarios on a scale from 1 (very helpful) to 6 (not at all helpful) was 2.8 for lectures, 1.6 for skill stations, and 1.4 for scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
Attendance at a simulator-aided airway management course has a significant impact on self-reported accuracy and confidence in evaluation of airways, use of alternative airway devices, and changes in the practitioner's clinical practice toward difficult airway situations.
Department of Anesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. srusso@zari.de
Sebastian G
SG
Russo
Christoph
C
Eich
Jürgen
J
Barwing
Eike A
EA
Nickel
Ulrich
U
Braun
Bernhard M
BM
Graf
Arnd
A
Timmermann
D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D017214:Laryngeal Masks; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008348:Manikins; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires