Comparative Effectiveness of Hands-on Versus Computer Simulation-Based Training for Contrast Media Reactions and Teamwork Skills.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performance of interprofessional teams of radiologists, technologists, and nurses trained with high-fidelity hands-on (HO) simulation and computer-based (CB) simulation training for contrast reaction management (CR) and teamwork skills (TS).


METHODS
Nurses, technologists, and radiology residents were randomized into 11 teams of three (one of each). Six teams underwent HO training and five underwent CB training for CR and TS. Participants took written tests before and after training and were further tested using a high-fidelity simulation scenario.


RESULTS
HO and CB groups scored similarly on all written tests and each showed improvement after training (P = .002 and P = .018, respectively). During the final scenario test, HO teams tended to receive higher grades than CB teams on CR (95% versus 81%, P = .17) and made fewer errors in epinephrine administration (0/6 versus 2/5, P = .18). HO and CB teams scored similarly on TS (51% versus 52%, P = .66), but overall scores were lower for TS than for CR skills in both the HO (P = .03) and CB teams (P = .06). HO training was more highly rated than CB as an effective educational tool (P = .01) and for effectiveness at teaching CR and team communication skills (P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
High-fidelity simulation can be used to both train and test interprofessional teams of radiologists, technologists, and nurses for both CR and TS and is more highly rated as an effective educational tool by participants than similar CB training. However, a single session of either type of training may be inadequate for mastering TS.
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Electronic address: wangcl@uw.edu.
Carolyn L
CL
Wang
Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Sankar
S
Chinnugounder
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Daniel S
DS
Hippe
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Sadaf
S
Zaidi
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Ryan B
RB
O'Malley
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Puneet
P
Bhargava
Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
William H
WH
Bush
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014861:Washington
D003287:Contrast Media
Interprofessional team training; computer-based simulation; contrast media; contrast reaction management; high-fidelity simulation; teamwork skills