title: The effect of two cognitive aid designs on team functioning during intra-operative anaphylaxis emergencies: a multi-centre simulation study.
abstract: This multi-centre repeated measures study was undertaken to determine how contrasting designs of cognitive aids affect team performance during simulated intra-operative anaphylaxis crises. A total of 24 teams consisting of a consultant anaesthetist, an anaesthetic trainee and anaesthetic assistant managed three simulated intra-operative anaphylaxis emergencies. Each team was assigned at random to a counterbalanced order of: no cognitive aid; a linear cognitive aid; and a branched cognitive aid, and scored for team functioning. Scores were significantly higher with a linear compared with either a branched version of the cognitive aid or no cognitive aid for 'Team Overall Behavioural Performance', difference between study groups (F-value) 5.8, p = 0.01. Aggregate scores were higher with the linear compared with the branched aid design (p = 0.03). Cognitive aids improve co-ordination of the team's activities and support team members to verbalise their actions. A linear design of cognitive aid improves team functioning more than a branched design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Peri-operative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Schools of Psychology, ITEE, and Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.affiliation: Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kolawole
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000628:therapy*; D057189:Checklist; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003463:Cues; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008348:Manikins; D010348:Patient Care Team; D057175:Posters as Topic