Simulation-Based Interprofessional Education for Operating Room Teams

Effective teamwork and communication among operating room team members are important for patient safety and perioperative care. However, early-career surgical residents and nursing staff may have limited opportunities to learn team-based competencies together in a structured, interprofessional format. This study is a single-center, prospective, single-arm pilot study designed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary educational effects of a simulation-based interprofessional education program for operating room teams. Eligible participants will be assigned to interprofessional teams consisting of surgical residents, anesthesia nurse practitioners, and operating room nurses. The educational intervention will include two simulation-based sessions conducted during the study period. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes and will include a scenario-based team exercise followed by structured debriefing. Representative scenario themes may include operating room safety events, communication challenges, equipment or instrument-related events, and intraoperative crisis management. The primary outcome is the change in teamwork self-efficacy from baseline to Week 7, assessed using a 15-item interprofessional teamwork self-efficacy questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include the change in readiness for interprofessional learning, assessed using the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale, and program completion rate. Optional semi-structured interviews may be conducted after completion of the educational sessions to explore participants' perceptions of the program, perceived relevance to clinical practice, and suggestions for improvement.

Interview participation and audio recording, if performed, will be optional and based on separate consent. No investigational drug, biologic product, or medical device will be used in this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 19 years or older.
• Affiliated with Yongin Severance Hospital and meeting one of the following criteria:
• Postgraduate year 1-2 surgical resident;
• Newly appointed anesthesia nurse practitioner with less than 6 months of experience in the relevant role;
• Newly appointed operating room nurse with less than 6 months of operating room experience.
• Able to participate in the planned study procedures during the study period.
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who do not provide written informed consent.
• Individuals who are unable to complete the baseline or post-intervention questionnaires.
• Individuals whose rotation, leave of absence, resignation, transfer, or work schedule change makes participation in the study procedures infeasible.
• Individuals judged by the investigator to be inappropriate for study participation.