Does Instruction on Cognitive Aid Use Improve Performance and Retention of Skills?

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether formal instruction on the use of cognitive aids in managing a crisis will result in better longterm retention of knowledge and skills. In particular, this study examines the impact of cognitive aid teaching on the Advanced Cardiac Life Support course.

Official Title
-----------------
Does Instruction on Cognitive Aid Use Improve Performance and Retention of Skills? A Simulation Based Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
-----------------
Long-term Retention of Advanced Cardiac Life Support Skills

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: Standard Simulation Based ACLS Refresher Teaching
* Other: Cognitive Aid based ACLS Refresher training


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: Post-graduate Medical trainee in departments of Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine Has taken ACLS Course at least once Exclusion Criteria: Never taken ACLS Course
Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Control Group<br>This group gets a simulation based ACLS refresher as treatment, but no access to cognitive aids for any of the tests. | Other: Standard Simulation Based ACLS Refresher Teaching<br>* 45min-1 hour time. 15 minutes didactic review of 2010 ACLS guidelines followed by practice simulated megacodes<br>|
| Active Comparator: 2nd Control Group<br>This group receives a standard Simulation based ACLS refresher as the intervention, like the control group. No mention is made of Cognitive Aids in the teaching, but they are available during the post-test and retention post-test. | Other: Standard Simulation Based ACLS Refresher Teaching<br>* 45min-1 hour time. 15 minutes didactic review of 2010 ACLS guidelines followed by practice simulated megacodes<br>|
| Experimental: Cognitive Aid Group<br>This group receives Cognitive Aid based teaching as the intervention. They also have access to cognitive aids for post-test and retention post-test | Other: Cognitive Aid based ACLS Refresher training<br>* 45min-1 hour time. 15 minutes didactic review of 2010 ACLS guidelines followed by simulated ACLS megacode practice focused on the use of Cognitive Aids to guide management.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ACLS Megacode Examination Scale Score | Simulated scenarios will be videotaped. These will be scored according to the ACLS megacode testing checklist by trained video raters | 6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills Scale (ANTS) | Simulated Scenarios will be videotaped. Videos will be scored by trained raters according to the validated Anesthesia Nontechnical Skills Scale. | 6 Months | 

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
Medical Education, Cognitive Aid, Crisis Resource Management, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Skills Retention