Trial of “neuroresuscitation simulation training” for junior clinical trainees

Abstract

In neurological emergencies, acute neurological dysfunction is a critical condition because it causes cardiopulmonary arrest without appropriate management. Management of a life-threatening neurological dysfunction is defined as “neuroresuscitation” in Japan. The basic concept of neuroresuscitation is assessment and stabilization of “airway (A)”, “breathing (B)”, “circulation (C)”, and “dysfunction of central nervous system (D)”. Several simulation training courses based on this concept have been developed for medical personnel in Japan. However, junior clinical trainees rarely have opportunities to systematically learn the skills of general management in neurological emergencies. Thus, we have provided junior clinical trainees with neuroresuscitation simulation training using the contents of the Immediate Stroke Life Support (ISLS) course, one of the neuroresuscitationassociated simulation training courses. We developed two types of lectures for simulation training. One is “ABCD management of simulated patients according to scenarios” and the other is “evaluation of simulated patients with the Glasgow Coma Scale and NIH Stroke Scale”. Simulated patients and instructors of this training are performed by 2nd grade trainees because teaching is the most effective learning method. The results of questionnaires filled out by clinical trainees participating in the training have shown that this simulation training is useful for them in learning the skills of neuroresuscitation and helpful in their examination of real emergency patients.