The effect of two cognitive aid designs on team functioning during intra-operative anaphylaxis emergencies: A multi-centre simulation study

Abstract

This multi-centre repeated measures study was undertaken to determine how contrasting designs of cognitive AIDS affect team performance during simulated intra-operative anaphylaxis crises. A total of 24 teams consisting of a consultant anaesthetist, an anaesthetic trainee and anaesthetic assistant managed three simulated intra-operative anaphylaxis emergencies. Each team was assigned at random to a counterbalanced order of: no cognitive aid; a linear cognitive aid; and a branched cognitive aid, and scored for team functioning. Scores were significantly higher with a linear compared with either a branched version of the cognitive aid or no cognitive aid for 'Team Overall Behavioural Performan..