The importance of simulation in medical education and improving the emergency team performance on cardiopulmonary resuscitation by using simulation based education

AIM: In this study, the importance of simulation in medical education, the simulation based training is able to enhance the team performance on cardiopulmonary resuscitation or not, and the needs to improve the quality of medical education were investigated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was performed between September 2013 and November 2013 in Emergency Department of Gaziantep University Medical Faculity. One hundred and twenty participants from the third class of Medical Faculity were divided into 4 groups and Basic Life Support training was given. Traditional training, simülation based training on simple manikin, simülation based training on high fidelity manikin and self training methods were applied. The check lists were used to evaluate the team performance. Applications were recorded by audio-visual camera system. Independent-Samples T test, One-Way Anova, Tukey and Games-Howell for Post Hoc analysis, Paired-Samples T test, Repeated Anova, Mc-Nemar test Monte Carlo simulation technique, and Pearson Chi-Square tests were used. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. FINDINGS: There were no significant differences between the groups in age and sex (p=0.311, p=0.217). Knowledge was increased after trainings but no significant differences were detected between groups. This increase in knowledge was not compatible with the increase in the levels of team performance. Simulation based trained groups had significantly better team performances and skill levels than the other groups (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between simple manikin and high fidelity manikin groups on the team performance (p=1). There were no significant differences between traditional training and self training groups on team performance (p=1), but there was a significant difference in skill levels of these groups; the self training group was better than traditional training group (p=0.018). According to the results of the questionnaires self confidence of the participants were elevated after the trainings (p<0.001). The check lists used in team performance evaluations were showing excellent correlation between each other. CONCLUSION: Simulation based training improves the team performances, skill levels and the self confidences of the students. Therefore it should be integrated into medical education. KEY WORDS: Simulation, resuscitation, team performance.