Increasing Anesthesia Provider Knowledge in Using Emergency Manuals for Crisis Management

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase the knowledge and confidence of anesthesia providers in using emergency manuals (EMs) for crisis management. Background: Emergency manuals have been firmly established in other high-risk industries such as aviation and nuclear power to improve safety and emergency management, but they are not yet in widespread use in the medical field and anesthesiology. Emergency manuals have been shown in the literature through various studies to improve anesthesia provider performance when navigating emergencies, with increased amounts of key steps taken, reduced errors, and improved team dynamics. The provision of education and training improves provider use of emergency manuals. Methods: A high-fidelity simulation of anesthesia emergencies was conducted involving anesthesia providers from a local hospital. First, they navigated emergencies without using an emergency manual, and then they managed the scenarios again but with a Stanford emergency manual available. Video recording from the simulation was utilized to create a training video that was then distributed to the anesthesia providers from that hospital. After viewing the training video, the anesthesia providers completed a post-pre survey that evaluated their knowledge of, confidence to use, and perceived importance of emergency manuals. Additionally, new durable Stanford emergency manuals were placed in each OR at the hospital. Results: Results from the survey revealed that following viewing of the training video, confidence in using EMs increased by 44.91%, knowledge of how to use EMs increased by 32.73%, and perceived importance of EMs increased by 32.73%. Viewing the training video resulted in statistically significant improvement in those three areas. Conclusion: This project demonstrates that the intervention of a training video can increase provider confidence and knowledge in the utilization of emergency manuals for crisis management. Additionally, it was found that providers had increased the perceived importance of EMs following viewing of the training video. Emergency manuals are shown to improve anesthesia provider performance during emergencies, and education and training are shown to improve their use of manuals, this project demonstrated that training increased their confidence and knowledge to use emergency manuals.