Does simulation booster impact retention of resuscitation procedural skills and teamwork?

OBJECTIVE: The Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) has transitioned to a simulation-based format. We hypothesized that immersive simulation differentially impacts similar trainee populations' resuscitation knowledge, procedural skill and teamwork behavior. STUDY DESIGN: Residents from NICU and non-NICU programs were randomized to either control or a booster simulation 7 to 10 months after NRP. Procedural skill and teamwork behavior instruments were validated, Individual resident's resuscitation performance was assessed at 15 to 18 months. Three reviewers rated videos. RESULT: Fifty residents were assessed. Inter-rater reliability was good for procedural skills (0.78) and team behavior (0.74) instruments. The intervention group demonstrated better procedural skills (71.6 versus 64.4) and teamwork behaviors (18.8 versus 16.2). The NICU program demonstrated better teamwork behaviors (18.6 versus 15.5) compared with non-NICU program. CONCLUSION: A simulation-enhanced booster session 9 months after NRP differentiates procedural skill and teamwork behavior at 15 months. Deliberate practice with simulation enhances teamwork behaviors additively with residents' clinical resuscitation exposure.