Addressing the undergraduate airway "Preparedness Gap": a matched-pairs analysis of a trainee-led, scaffolding-based simulation curriculum.

BACKGROUND

Traditional undergraduate airway training in Ireland relies heavily on passive and unstructured theatre-based observation. We hypothesised that this model may result in a "preparedness gap", where students lack safety-critical knowledge regarding airway management skills.

AIMS: Our study aimed to evaluate whether a Non Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) led airway simulation circuit effectively remediates safety-focused knowledge deficits in airway management amongst medical students.

METHODS

A prospective pre-post study (n = 18) evaluated a four-station simulation circuit for medical students (Equipment, Bag-valve-mask (BVM), Endotracheal Tube Intubation (ETI), Supraglottic Airway Insertion (SGA)), designed and delivered by Anaesthesia NCHDs at St Vincent's University Hospital. Data were analysed using matched-pairs to evaluate objective knowledge and self-reported confidence among participants.

RESULTS

Objective safety knowledge improved from 2.72 to 4.83/5 (p < 0.001) among participants. Baseline recognition of nasopharyngeal airway contraindications rose from 38.9% to 100% (p = 0.001). Procedural confidence scores increased significantly across all domains (p < 0.001). Interestingly, fourteen of 18 participants (78%) reported increased interest in a career in anaesthesia after the workshop.

CONCLUSION

NCHD-led simulation was associated with improved safety-focused knowledge and increased interest in anaesthesia as a career. Larger-scale evaluation is warranted.