Long-term efficacy of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation with a novel, low-cost vascular model "Endo-Circuit"

Aims: This study investigated the long-term efficacy of a half-day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation and low-cost vascular model for practitioner knowledge, skills, and attitudes in clinical settings and also assessed the usefulness of the vascular model.

Methods: We included participants who attended a half-day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation focused on the veno-arterial method between April 2013 and January 2016 at Tohoku University Simulation Center (Sendai, Japan). A survey questionnaire form was sent to each participant in March 2016. Ninety-six survey respondents engaged in real extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice after the simulation were eligible for this study, and their answers were analyzed for differences between doctors and nurses. The survey asked questions regarding occupation, workplace, course date, years of experience, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice before simulation, problems and fears before the simulation, usefulness of reference materials, long-term efficacy of the simulation for practice, usefulness of the vascular model, and intensive care data review.

Results: Among all eligible answers, every average self-reported score (ranging from 0 to 10) of the long-term efficacy for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation practice was above 4. Nurses reported experiencing fears more frequently than doctors before the simulation. The usefulness of an original low-cost vascular model was evaluated at a median score of 7.

Conclusion: A half-day extracorporeal membrane oxygenation simulation with an original low-cost vascular model had long-term positive efficacy for knowledge, skills, and attitudes of practitioners who engaged in real practice after the simulation, and the practitioners considered the model to be useful for them.