Anesth Analg 2003;96:1236
© 2003 International Anesthesia Research Society
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Comparison of Computer Based and Patient Simulator Based Crisis
Kevin Coonan, MD
Charles Andersen Simulation Center, Madigan Army Medical Center, Ft. Lewis, WA
To the Editor:
Dr. Nyssen does not wish to respond.
Validation of simulations used to train medical personnel are increasingly available. Concerns about external validity have been frequently raised, and little has been done to compare differing educational paradigms. Drs. Nyssen et. al. are to be applauded for initiating such an efforts (1).
However, it is often difficult to detect differences in small populations, even if such differences exist and are meaningful. This common statistical error results in a non-significant p value. For example, Drs. Nyssen et. al. report a 1.05 minute difference in recognition of anaphylaxis after mannequin-based simulator training when compared to those who had computer-based training. This is obviously significant clinically, but due to the small sample studied, failed to reach statistical significance.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect those of the Department of Defense.
Reference
- Nyssen AS. Larbuisson R. Janssens M. Pendeville P. Mayne A. A comparison of the training value of two types of anesthesia simulators: computer screen-based and mannequin-based simulators. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2002; 94 (6): 1560–5.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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