Impact of Mental Imagery on the Non-technical Skills of Anaesthesia Residents

Non-technical skills, such as stress management, decision-making, communication and leadership, are crucial in anaesthesia and intensive care, particularly in emergency situations where technical performance alone is not enough. Mental imagery training used in the fields of sport and surgery could play a key role in improving these skills in future doctors.

A recent study showed that mental imagery training led to better non-technical skills among first-year anaesthesia residents in simulation of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation case (article currently being reviewed).

This study compared mentalisation with reminders at predefined intervals in the intervention group with no reminders to read the cognitive aid in the control group. In addition, cardiopulmonary arrest is a well-known subject for students and initial knowledge was not assessed beforehand.

This new clinical trial aims to evaluate the impact of mental imagery on the non-technical skills of anaesthesia and intensive care residents following initial training in neonatal resuscitation with a full-scale simulation evaluation at 6 months, in residents with a reminder of mentalisation or rereading of the cognitive aid depending on the group.

• Objective of the study 2.1 Main objective: Blind video assessment by an expert examiner of the non-technical skills (situational awareness, communication, decision-making, teamwork) of anaesthesia and intensive care residents on a simulated neonatal resuscitation case with the BARS score out of 36 points (9 for the 4 subcategories of non-technical skills).

2.2 Secondary objectives: Assessment of basic knowledge using an initial knowledge quiz, to be repeated after 6 months.

Blind video assessment of technical skills by an expert examiner using the NRPE score.

Assessment of participants' visuospatial abilities using the MIQ-R questionnaire, initially and after 6 months.

• Methodology 2.1 Study population Interns in anaesthesia and intensive care (DESAR 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Number of subjects required:

Assuming a change in the BARS score from 20 (control) to 25 (mentalisation) in line with our previous study, a standard deviation of 4, a risk alpha 5% beta 80% and 0 lost to follow-up, 22 participants (11 per group) are required.

Randomisation:

• Experimental group: mentalisation of the ILCOR cognitive aid for neonatal resuscitation at predefined intervals
• Control group: simple reading of the ILCOR cognitive aid for neonatal resuscitation at predefined intervals 2.2 Inclusion criteria Anaesthesia and intensive care interns (DESAR 1, 2, 3 and 4) volunteers Signed informed consent 2.3 Exclusion criteria Refusal to participate in the study 2.4 Intervention
• Both groups will complete an initial knowledge questionnaire and the MIQR questionnaire, then receive initial neonatal resuscitation training based on a theoretical course followed by practical workshops and simulation.
• The experimental group will receive guided mentalisation based on ILCOR cognitive aids for neonatal resuscitation. Regular reminders of mentalisation will be given over a period of 6 months before the final evaluation. Adherence to mental rehearsals will be verified.
• The control group will receive ILCOR cognitive aids for neonatal resuscitation. Regular reminders to read the cognitive aid will be given over a period of 6 months before the final evaluation. Adherence to the reminders will be verified.
• Statistical analysis Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples Statistical analyses performed using SPSS software. Significance level set at p < 0.05
• Ethical considerations Informed consent obtained from all participants, guaranteeing their right to confidentiality and anonymity.
• Study schedule 27 March: randomisation and inclusion of participants in two groups. 27 March: knowledge questionnaire and MIQR, theory lesson with presentation of cognitive aid, handling of equipment, MCE, IOT, guided mentalisation for the mentalisation group.

April-October: reminder messages at predefined intervals for both groups October: final evaluation in individual simulation over a 10-minute period, filmed, scenario to be defined, knowledge questionnaire and MIQR. Evaluation of the videos by 2 experts not involved in the study.

• Conclusion The objective of this study is to analyse whether regular training using mental imagery can improve the non-technical skills of anaesthesia and intensive care interns compared to reading a cognitive aid, and thus potentially increase the effectiveness of medical teams in emergency situations.

Inclusion criteria

• Anesthesia residents in 1, 2, 3 o 4 year of training and volunteers

Exclusion criteria

• Residents not volunteer