title: Impact of age on anaesthesiologists' competence: A narrative review.
abstract: The international anaesthesia community is getting older, in line with trends worldwide, and as men and women age there is the risk that psychophysiological decline could have an impact on clinical practice. Impairment of technical and nontechnical skills could have a negative impact on patients' safety and outcomes. The ageing process may not necessarily go hand-in-hand with a predictable pattern of decreased competence as not all aspects of functional decline are affected at the same rate and to the same extent. The development of simulation has provided a means of detecting and perhaps reversing the decline in ability associated with age. The introduction of recertification based on an assessment of competence at simulation sessions could play a crucial role in maintaining a high standard of patient care and an appropriate level of patient safety.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care University of Pisa, Italy (MG), Department of Cardiac Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Service d'Anesthésie-Réanimation II, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France (CZ, SM), Department of Anaesthesia, McGill University, Montreal, Canada (TMH).
authors.forename: Marilù
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giacalone
authors.forename: Cédrick
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaouter
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mion
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hemmerling
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000072080:Anesthesiologists / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*