Pause and discuss scenarios
Definition: This method is a variation of the immersive scenario. Generally participants train in groups of six or less. All the participants remain in the training room during the scenarios, which tends to be shorter, enabling pauses, for discussion, before continuation. The debriefing also occurs in the training room, and also tends to be brief. Owing to their brevity, these scenarios can be repeated, with slight clinical variations. By presenting clinical variation, the training helps to build the trainee clinicians’ experience bank and repertoire of management options.
Suitable for the following competencies: Often this method focuses on a single clinical system or task, but addresses multiple competencies relevant to that task including assessment, decision-making and procedural skills; applied in a team configuration. The objectives often target a defined management algorithm or clinical task, the discussion lends itself to review of guidelines or issues affecting implementation of guidelines. In addition to clinical tasks this format is also useful for practicing basic teamwork, especially roles, room layout, technical communication, coordination and leadership.
Examples of topics suitable for this format include:
- Obstructed airway algorithm
- Systematic approach to hypoxia in an intubated patient
- Rapid sequence induction/intubation in a trauma patient with a potential cervical spine injury
- Cardiac arrest
Format: Generally 6:1 student: instructor ratio. All participants are in training room together.
How its run: Activities occur around simulator. Involve short scenarios (10-15 min including discussion). Case information is brief, participants are given specific tasks which usually focus on a clinical algorithm; the number of participants involved in any one scenario varies with the objectives ranging from 2-6; the actual scenario runs for 2-5 minutes and everyone stands for the debrief/discussion.
