Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Learners' Decision-making, Anxiety, and Task Load During a Simulated Airway Crisis Using Two Difficult Airway Aids.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) difficult airway algorithm and the Vortex approach are difficult airway aids. Our objective was to demonstrate that a simpler cognitive model would facilitate improved decision-making during a process such as difficult airway management. We hypothesized the simpler Vortex approach would be associated with less anxiety and task load. ⋯ Medical students perform better in a simulated airway crisis after training in the simpler Vortex approach to guide decision-making. Students in the ASA group had task load scores indicative of high cognitive load.