title: The Simulation Olympics: a resuscitation-based simulation competition as an educational intervention.
abstract: The Department of Emergency Medicine at Queen's University developed, implemented, and evaluated an interprofessional simulation-based competition called the Simulation Olympics with the purpose of encouraging health care providers to practice resuscitation skills and foster strong team-based attitudes. Eleven teams (N  =  45) participated in the competition. Teams completed three standardized resuscitation scenarios in a high-fidelity simulation laboratory with teams composed of nurses, respiratory therapists, and undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees. Trained standardized actors and a dedicated technician were used for all scenarios. Judges evaluated team performance using standardized assessment tools. All participants (100%) completed an anonymous two-page questionnaire prior to the competition assessing baseline characteristics and evaluating participant attitudes, motivation, and barriers to participation. The majority of participants (71%) completed an evaluation form following the event focusing on highlights, barriers to participation, and desired future directions. Evaluations were uniformly positive in short-answer feedback and attitudinal scoring measures. To our knowledge, the Simulation Olympics competition is the first of its kind in Canada to be offered at an academic teaching hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7. damondagnone@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damon Dagnone
authors.forename: Amandeep
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takhar
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lacroix
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D016544:Patient Simulation; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies