Advances in Medical Education and Practice
In situ Simulation as a Training Tool in a Tertiary Pediatric Emergency Department in Italy: Enhancing Preparedness Where it Matters
By Valeria Pansini, Lavinia Capossela, Elena Pende and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
In situ simulation differs from in-centre simulation as it is conducted in the actual clinical environment rather than a simulation laboratory, thereby enhancing contextual realism and enabling identification of system-level vulnerabilities within clinical workflows.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of in situ simulation on self-perceived competence, clinical performance, team dynamics, and system readiness in a tertiary pediatric emergency department in Italy.
Methods
This prospective single-center observational study was conducted in a tertiary pediatric emergency department in Italy. A total of 55 healthcare professionals participated in 11 high-fidelity in situ simulation sessions. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention self-assessment questionnaires using a Likert-scale instrument developed for the study. Clinical performance was evaluated using a structured ABCDE-based checklist. No formal qualitative interviews were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t -tests with a significance threshold of p< 0.05.