Mitigating Task Saturation in Critical Care Air Transport Team Red Flag Checklist
Abstract
Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) are a critical component of the U.S. Air Force aeromedical evacuation paradigm. The complexity of patient care and the nature of the missions require competency in both medical care and technical and non-technical skills (NOTECHS). The current study was conducted to evaluate predictors of competence in non-technical skills. Sixteen CCATTs were studied over a 6-month period. All teams were videotaped during a simulated CCATT mission during their 2-week advanced course at the University Hospital Cincinnati. Team and individual performances were scored using a validated assessment tool for NOTECHS. Salivary cortisol levels were measured at baseline and pre- and post-simulation exercises. Sixteen simulated missions were reviewed, with 69 crisis events identified. Evidence of task saturation was present in 29/69 (42%) crisis events; 63% of participants engaged in intensive unit (ICU) care and 67% had flown real-world CCATT. Each team member was assigned a non-technical skill score or red flag score. The team s average red flag score correlated with task saturation during the simulated missions (odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.80, p<0.01). In the univariate analysis, daily ICU experience (p<0.04), previous attendance at the Center for the Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills course (p<0.04), previous experience in simulated CCATT missions (p<0.04), and previous deployment experience (p<0.001) correlated with the red flag score. In the multivariate analysis, daily ICU experience (p<0.03) and previous deployment experience (p<0.04) continued to be significant. Salivary cortisol levels increased by 0.124 g/dL over baseline as the result of the simulation (p=0.0002) but did not correlate with red flag scores or biographical data, suggesting that the stress of the simulation was similar for all participants. Task saturation is frequently observed in simulated CCATT missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 14, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA615395
Entities
People
- Bradley D. Davis
Organizations
- University of Cincinnati