Assessment of Non-technical Skills Using High Fidelity Simulation among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Students in Pune, India

In the curriculum for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), much emphasis is given on teaching technical skills and little focus on non-technical skills (NTS). The non-technical skills specifically applicable in emergency medical services are communicating, managing workload, anticipating, situation awareness, supervising, maintaining standards, using assertiveness and decision making which are broadly integrated into three key areas of Leadership, Teamwork and Task management. Simulated scenarios are an opportunity for presentation of similar crisis situations.

To assess non-technical skills using high fidelity simulation among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) students.

Non-technical skills were assessed among 48 students using six clinical case scenarios on high fidelity simulation in a single day session. To assess the NTS, a standardized 11 item observational tool called Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM) was used. The students were subjected to a simulation session followed by focused debriefing. The item on the TEAM tool was scored by two Simulation Educators to avoid rater bias.

Leadership and Task management were found to be relatively better compared to Teamwork across all groups. Overall team performance by all groups was found to be 5.38 out of 10. The participants scored well in parameters pertaining to leadership. The groups performed better in areas of effective communication, timely completion of tasks, acting with composure and control and maintaining a positive morale. High fidelity simulation offers an environment to hone both technical and non-technical skills.

This study underlines the significance of conducting more frequent non-technical skills training with adequate debriefing time dedicated to it.