A Randomized Trial Assessing the Effectiveness of High-fidelity Simulation Training in Managing Maternal Cardiac Arrest among Emergency Medical Professionals in India

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal cardiac arrest is a rare but critical event that poses significant risks to both the mother and the fetus. As majority of population in India lives in the rural areas, Emergency Medical Professionals assist in childbirth in transit in ambulances. This timely assistance ensures the safe transportation of both mother and new born baby to the hospital. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation training in the management of maternal cardiac arrest among emergency medical professionals. Methods: The randomized simulation study aimed to assess the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation in managing maternal cardiac arrest. Two hundred and fifty emergency medical professionals were randomly assigned to 50 groups. Participants underwent a prebriefing session before engaging in simulation scenarios. After the initial scenarios, participants received a debriefing session emphasizing the standardized algorithm for maternal cardiac arrest management. A week later, participants engaged in a second simulation scenario, and their adherence to the algorithm was assessed. The data were analyzed using statistical tests, and the entire simulation session was video recorded for reliability. Results: The results showed that participants demonstrated an improvement in managing both maternal and obstetric interventions in the posttraining scenario compared to the pretraining scenario. The successful implementation of the advanced cardiac life support algorithm and the debriefing session were key factors in improving participants’ performance. However, continuous exposure and practice are necessary to maintain and enhance these skills. Conclusion: Health-care professionals should actively seek opportunities for ongoing training and education to stay updated with the latest guidelines and advancements in managing maternal cardiac arrest.

Keywords

• advanced cardiac life support maternal cardiac arrest algorithm
• ems professionals
• high-fidelity simulation
• maternal cardiac arrest