The College of Anaesthetists of Ireland Simulation Training programme: a descriptive report and analysis of course participants' feedback.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education is a modern training modality that allows healthcare professionals to develop knowledge and practice skills in a safe learning environment. The College of Anaesthetists of Ireland (CAI) was the first Irish postgraduate medical training body to introduce mandatory simulation training into its curriculum. Extensive quality assurance and improvement data has been collected on all simulation courses to date.

AIMS: Describe The College of Anaesthetists of Ireland Simulation Training (CAST) programme and report the analysis of course participants' feedback.

METHODS: A retrospective review of feedback forms from four simulation courses from March 2010 to August 2016 took place. Qualitative and quantitative data from 1069 participants who attended 112 courses was analysed.

RESULTS: Feedback was overall very positive. Course content and delivery were deemed to be appropriate. Participants agreed that course participation would influence their future practice. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.001) between self-reported pre- and post-course confidence scores was observed in 19 out of 25 scenarios. The learning environment, learning method and debrief were highlighted as aspects of the courses that participants liked most.

CONCLUSIONS: The mandatory integration of CAST has been welcomed with widespread enthusiasm among specialist anaesthesia trainees. Intuitively, course participation instils confidence in trainees and better equips them to manage anaesthesia emergencies in the clinical setting. It remains to be seen if translational outcomes result from this increase in confidence. Nevertheless, the findings of this extensive review have cemented the place of mandatory simulation training in specialist anaesthesia training in Ireland.