title: Improving Escalation of Care: A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine whether an intervention could improve the escalation of care skills of junior surgeons.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Escalation of care involves the recognition, communication, and response to patient deterioration until a satisfactory outcome has been achieved. Although failure to escalate care can lead to increased morbidity and mortality, there is no formal training in how to perform this vital process safely.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled trial recruited postgraduate year (PGY)-1 and PGY-2 surgeons to participate in 2 scenarios involving simulated patients requiring escalation of care. A control group performed both scenarios before receiving the intervention; the intervention group received the educational intervention before their second scenario. Scenarios were video recorded and rated by 2 independent, blinded assessors using validated scales to measure patient assessment, communication, management and nontechnical skills of participants, and the number of medical errors they detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 PGY-1 and PGY-2 surgeons, all with equivalent skill at baseline, participated. Postintervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly better patient assessment (P < 0.001), communication (P < 0.001), and nontechnical skills (P < 0.001). They also detected more medical errors (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teaching junior surgeons a systematic approach to escalation of care improved multiple core skills required to maintain patient safety and avoid preventable harm.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, London, UK †Department of Surgery and Cancer, London, UK ‡School of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Maximilian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pucher
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McCartan
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reissis
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chana
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires