Advancing anesthesiology trainee proficiency in airway management simulation-based training: a non-hypoxic apnea duration approach.

Background: Effective airway management training for anesthesiology trainees remains crucial for patient safety. While simulation-based education has shown promise, incorporating physiological parameters into training scenarios could enhance learning outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of incorporating non-hypoxic apnea duration awareness in simulation-based airway management education for anesthesiology trainees.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study (ChiCTR2200065877) was conducted at Shanghai General Hospital from December 2022 to March 2023. Thirty anesthesiology undergraduates were randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which received non-hypoxic apnea duration information, or a conventional training group. Performance was assessed using a modified Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS) score and a satisfaction questionnaire. The intervention group was provided with specific non-hypoxic apnea duration data (247 s until SpO2 reached 90%) during simulated difficult airway scenarios.

Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher modified DOPS scores (51.4 ± 4.4 43.0 ± 5.4,  < .001) and satisfaction scores (45.0 ± 1.4 43.1 ±  2.0,  = .005). Notable improvements were observed in pre-anesthesia preparation ( = 0.028), difficult airway management ( < 0.001), and crisis response ( < 0.001). These findings suggest that incorporating non-hypoxic apnea duration awareness enhances clinical skills and trainee satisfaction.

Conclusions: Incorporating non-hypoxic apnea duration awareness into simulation-based airway management training significantly enhances both clinical skills and trainee satisfaction. This approach shows promise for improving critical aspects of airway management education.