Effect of Anesthesia Equipment Position on Anesthesiologists' Performance

The Effect of Anesthesia Equipment Position on Anesthesiologists' Crisis Management and Bag-valve-mask Ventilation Using Full Scale Simulation.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the position of the anesthesia machine affects the ability of anesthesiologists to manage a crisis situation and perform critical tasks. Participants will be asked to manage a simulated crisis situation using a manikin in the operating room. The anesthesia machine will be positioned either in an "optimal" or "awkward" manner for the anesthesiologist. The session will be video recorded and then analysed for various outcomes that reflect the anesthesiologist's performance. Participants will also perform a critical task, bag-valve-mask ventilation, on a manikin with the anesthesia machine in the optimal and awkward positions. The effectiveness of ventilation in each position will be compared. The results of this study may have implications for patient safety.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Anesthesia Airway Management; Simulation in Training Center; Anesthesia Ergonomics
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Simualted laryngospasm crisis

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jason Hayes, MD; Phone Number: 416-813-7445; Email: jason.hayes@sickkids.ca

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All Department of Anesthesia residents (PGY4 or 5), fellows and staff are eligible to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unwillingness to complete the simulated crisis and complete study questionnaires

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Preferred/optimal position group; Anesthesia machine is placed on the preferred side and optimal position for the anesthesiologist	Behavioral: Simualted laryngospasm crisis; An acute laryngospasm scenario will be simulated in a pediatric manikin
Active Comparator: Non-preferred/awkward position group; Anesthesia machine is placed on the non-preferred side and awkward position for the anesthesiologist	Behavioral: Simualted laryngospasm crisis; An acute laryngospasm scenario will be simulated in a pediatric manikin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Crisis performance	A composite performance score defined as the mean of standardized MEPA checklist score and standardized time to scenario completion.	Measured during the crisis scenario, average time is 5 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time metrics	Time from change in vital signs to intervention	Measured during the crisis scenario, average time is 5 minutes
Case management score	Performance of predefined key tasks in the treatment of the simulated crisis	Measured during the crisis scenario, average time is 5 minutes
Ergonomic/motor metrics	Number of times the hand(s) cross the midline and touches the machine or equipment; Number of times the anesthesiologist makes an adjustment to optimize BVM ventilation attempts:; Total number of degrees the anesthesiologist's head turns during the scenario; Total distance the anesthesiologist's hand travels during the scenario	Measured during the crisis scenario, average time is 5 minutes
Workload measurement metrics	National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load questionnaire	Questionnaire is completed after the participation in the crisis scenario is completed. The questionnaire will take an average of 10 minutes to complete.
Minute ventilation	Measurement of the minute ventilation during performance of bag-valve-mask ventilation on a manikin with the anesthesia machine in both the preferred and non-preferred positions.	Measured during the crisis scenario, average time is 5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 26, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Anesthesia; Simulation; Ergonimcs
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4200

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No