Abstract
Introduction: Interns are often unprepared to effectively communicate in the acute trauma setting. Despite the many strengths of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program, the main shortcoming within the course is the deficiency of teamwork and leadership training. In this study, we describe the creation of an interdisciplinary boot camp in which interns' basic trauma knowledge, level of confidence, and teamwork skills are assessed.Methods: We designed a one-day, boot camp curriculum for interns of various specialties with the purpose of improving communication and teamwork skills for effective management of acute trauma patients. Our curriculum consisted of a one-day, twelve-hour experience, which included trauma patient simulations, content expert lectures, group discussion of video demonstrations, and skill development workstations. Baseline and acquired knowledge were assessed through the use of confidence surveys, cognitive questionnaires, and a validated evaluation tool of teamwork and leadership skills for traumaResults: Fifteen interns entered the boot camp with an overall confidence score of 3.2 (1-5 scale) in the management of trauma cases. At the culmination of the study, there was a significant increase in the overall confidence level of interns in role delegation, leadership, Crisis Resource Management (CRM) principles, and in the performance of primary and secondary surveys. No significant changes were seen in determining and effectively using the Glasgow Coma Scale, Orthopedic splinting/reduction skills, and effective use of closed-loop communication.Conclusion: An intensive one-day trauma boot camp demonstrated significant improvement in self-reported confidence of CRM concepts, role delegation, leadership, and performance of primary and secondary surveys. Despite the intensive curriculum, there was no significant improvement in overall teamwork and leadership performance during simulated cases. Our boot camp curriculum offers educators a unique framework to which they can apply to their own training program as a foundation for effective leadership and teamwork training for interns.
Highlights
Interns are often unprepared to effectively communicate in the acute trauma setting
Our boot camp curriculum offers educators a unique framework to which they can apply to their own training program as a foundation for effective leadership and teamwork training for interns
Though many interns receive Advance Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training at the beginning of their residencies, there is little to no guidance on effective leadership and teamwork principles necessary to be an effective member of a trauma team within these courses [3]
Summary
Interns are often unprepared to effectively communicate in the acute trauma setting. Despite the many strengths of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) program, the main shortcoming within the course is the deficiency of teamwork and leadership training. Utilization of concepts espoused in Crisis Resource Management (CRM) may aid in the acquisition of basic skills required to be an effective member of a trauma team [4]. An emphasis on discussing common errors allows interns to become more adept at correcting them and provides the emotional stability to adjust their management when errors are made in the clinical setting [8]. These skills can be reinforced using deliberate practice (DP) methods. Through DP, the learner seeks to improve their performance and knowledge by preventing automatism and raising their own standards [10]
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