Emergency crisis resource management: a simulation-based course developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES) for health sciences students

Background and objective.

Educational programs based on high-fidelity simulation training aim to promote students’ acquisition of nontechnical competencies such as understanding crisis resource management (CRM). This study evaluated the efficacy of a CRM course for students in their last year of university studies in health sciences. The course was developed by the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES).

Methods.

Quasi-experimental study of a high-fidelity simulation course to teach emergency CRM (E-CRM) using preand postcourse measures of achievement in a single student cohort. A total of 209 students completed 2 selfadministered self-efficacy evaluations of their acquisition of nontechnical competencies and resilience. External observers also assessed the students’ nontechnical competencies with objective measurement scales.

Results.

Scores on resilience and self-efficacy assessments improved through the intervention (F = 25.90 and F = 68.02, respectively; P < .001, for both pre-post comparisons). Statistically significant differences were found between students in different health sciences at baseline (t = 2.67; P = .008). Scores improved significantly on the Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale (F = 6.18, P < .001, eta2 = 0.20) and the Ottawa CRM Global Rating Scale (F = 5.58; P < .005, eta2 = 0.19).

Conclusions.

The E-CRM course developed by a coordinated multiprofessional team based on high-fidelity simulations
improved self-efficacy assessments of resilience and all nontechnical competencies