title: Neonatal airway simulators, how good are they? A comparative study of physical and functional fidelity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proficiency in airway management is critical for neonatal health-care professionals. Simulation is a proven method to improve airway management skills. Skills transfer from simulation to the real life requires simulators with appropriate physical and functional fidelity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of neonatal health-care professionals evaluated eight different neonatal airway simulators for physical and functional fidelity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven subjects completed 151 simulator evaluations. Significant differences were found between the simulators evaluated (P<0.001). The manikins with the highest fidelity scores were the SimNewB, Newborn Anne and Premature Anne (Laerdal Medical). The task trainers with the highest fidelity scores were the Neonatal Intubation Trainer (Laerdal Medical) and the Newborn Airway Trainer (Syndaver Labs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simulator fidelity is an important aspect of simulation training, but is rarely evaluated. The results of this study can aid in choosing the best simulators for training and research, and provide feedback to the industry to guide future simulator development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Strandjord
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D058109:Airway Management / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008348:Manikins; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods