Observational StudyImproving Performance in Pediatric Trauma by Teaching Nontechnical Skills

The goal of this trial is to test a debriefing protocol to improve non-technical skills (NTS) in medical students. The study aims to answer the following questions:

• Does a debriefing intervention improve medical students' NTS?
• Does the intervention have an impact on the students' performance in simulated scenarios?

Participants in the study will be randomly assigned to one of the teams, each consisting of a trauma team leader and three assistants. The teams will rotate across four different scenarios, allowing participants to switch roles and act as team leaders. The intervention teams will be debriefed using the study protocol, while the control groups will receive standard technical feedback without focusing on NTS.

The primary outcome measure will be the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) score, which is a validated assessment tool for NTS. Secondary outcome measures include the number of correct interventions performed in each scenario.

The study will involve 40 medical students, and the sample size was determined based on previous studies and statistical considerations. A panel of health educators will define the debriefing protocol, and the trial has been approved by the McGill Research Ethics Board office.

The study findings are expected to contribute significantly to the training of providers of trauma care for children worldwide. By exploring the impact of debriefing on NTS in pediatric trauma education, this project aims to fill a critical gap in current training models.