A Multispecialty Critical Airway Simulation Course for Medical Students.

Abstract

To develop a novel multispecialty simulation-based course that teaches both technical and nontechnical skills in the management of adult and pediatric critical airways to graduating medical students and 2) to encourage a collaborative, multispecialty approach to the management of a difficult airway amongst fourth-year medical students who have enrolled in otolaryngology, anesthesia, and emergency medicine residency programs. Fourth-year medical student who had matched into otolaryngology, anesthesia, and emergency medicine participated in an intensive half-day course consisting of a series of hands-on skills stations with increasing complexity, followed by simulated complex patient scenarios designed for shared management of airway emergencies. Participants completed questionnaires prior to and immediately after the course. Fischer's exact test was utilized to compare data between the precourse and postcourse surveys. Free-text responses were qualitatively assessed to inform course development. Thirty-four medical students were enrolled (6 otolaryngology, 15 anesthesia, 13 emergency medicine), and 30 students completed both surveys. Fisher's exact test demonstrated improved confidence (P < .05) for every skill. More than 85% of participants strongly agreed or agreed that the intervention was useful in developing their knowledge, technical skills, and self-confidence and in improving clinical performance prior to residency. This critical airway course introduces a multispecialty simulation-based course designed to impart graduating medical students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors for critical airway management while fostering interprofessional collaboration. Our course was successful in improving confidence and was perceived as useful in developing knowledge, technical skills, self-confidence, and clinical performance prior to residency. NA Laryngoscope, 131:1482-1486, 2021.