Role of Simulation in Italian Emergency Medicine training programs: data from a national survey

Abstract

Abstract Background Simulation is an educational tool widely used worldwide and simulation-based education is an important training strategy in Emergency Medicine (EM) training programs. Objective In the first part of the project SIMinMEU of CosMEU and SIMMED, an electronic survey open to the Italian EM residents’ representatives was created with the aim to assess their awareness about simulation in their programs. Results Out of 33 EM residencies, 30 representatives answered the survey. Only 15 schools offer simulation, with a median of 16,27 (range 0–46) annual simulation training, with 53% of representatives indicating that the time dedicated to it met their needs. 15 do skill lab activities (50 %), 14 do High fidelity simulation (46.66%), one does serious games (3,33%) and one does virtual reality (3,33%). In situ simulations aren’t provided. Crisis resource management (CRM) and soft skills are topics covered in seven (23,3%). In 5 residencies (16,6%) there are certified facilitators. The annual exams aren’t carried out using simulation. Only in five (16,6%) residencies research in simulation is carried out. Residents’ satisfaction for simulation activities is lower than good in 73% of cases. Most residents stated lack of simulation standards and poor quality of simulation activities. The main requests are that simulation must be part of the teaching program, increased in number and better structured. Conclusions Considering the increasing interest of residents in simulation emerged by this survey, CoSMEU and SIMMED will commit to improving the quality, facilitating the spreading and guaranteeing the standardization of simulation in every EM Italian school.