Assessing Emergency Physicians Skills in Managing Critical Situations 24 Hours After a Night Shift Compared to Regular Conditions

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether the non-technical skills of emergency physicians in managing critical situations are affected 24 hours after completing a night shift. The study focuses on emergency doctors working full-time in the emergency medicine center of the Toulouse University Hospital, assessing their performance during high-pressure trauma cases. It compares performance after a night shift with performance following at least three nights without night work to better understand the impact of night duties on care quality and physician well-being. Participants will complete two complex simulation sessions involving trauma cases that require difficult decision-making. Each simulation lasts about thirty minutes and includes completing questionnaires before andor after the session, a briefing on the scenario, and the simulated practice itself. The simulations take place in an environment resembling an emergency reception room and involve trained paramedics and supervision by an emergency doctor. The first simulation evaluates usual performance without recent night shifts, while the second measures performance 24 hours after a minimum 12-hour night shift. During the study, researchers will assess physician performance using the Ottawa Crisis Resource Management Global Rating Scale Ottawa GRS, questionnaires, and an electrocardiogram ECG to monitor physiological stress. The study tracks differences in non-technical skills and stress levels between the two simulation times. Participation involves completing simulation exercises and questionnaires, with the total study period extending through both simulation sessions and associated assessments.

Physicians Performance After Night Shifts