Pilot One-Hour Multidisciplinary Team Training Simulation Intervention in the Operating Room Improves Team Nontechnical Skills.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to determine if a 1-hour simulation-based training with interdisciplinary operating room (OR) teams could improve nontechnical skills of the providers as assessed by the nontechnical skills tool (NOTECHS II).

Methods: Interprofessional otolaryngology OR teams consisting of surgery faculty and resident, anesthesiology faculty and resident, and OR nurses, scrub technician, and perioperative technician underwent a 1-hour simulation-based intervention in the OR. The teams were rated on their nontechnical skills during the intervention and throughout the clinical day following. They also completed self-reflection surveys (SRS) before the intervention and in 3 intervals after the intervention (immediately following the intervention, at the end of their shift on the day of the intervention, and again 2 weeks later).

Results: Four interprofessional teams with a total of 26 unique participants participated in this pilot program. Team nontechnical skills, assessed using NOTECHS II, improved from the first simulation to the second simulation during the intervention. Team NOTECHS II scores remained higher throughout the clinical day. Individual self-reflection scores (SRS) followed the same trend.

Conclusions: On-site interprofessional OR team training simulation can take place in a brief time period that is dedicated for education. A brief intervention resulted in improved team nontechnical scores when assessed following intervention. In addition, participants found the intervention to be effective and beneficial to their learning.