Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)
Introduction Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) is a high-risk, low-frequency diagnosis that can be fatal and is difficult to diagnose without an obvious history of ionizing radiation exposure. Methods Twenty-two emergency medicine residents and one pharmacy resident participated in an hour-long simulat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2023-08-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11331 |
| _version_ | 1797763228215803904 |
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| author | Mel Ebeling Andrew Bloom Mary M. Boggiano Dawn Taylor Peterson Todd Peterson |
| author_facet | Mel Ebeling Andrew Bloom Mary M. Boggiano Dawn Taylor Peterson Todd Peterson |
| author_sort | Mel Ebeling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) is a high-risk, low-frequency diagnosis that can be fatal and is difficult to diagnose without an obvious history of ionizing radiation exposure. Methods Twenty-two emergency medicine residents and one pharmacy resident participated in an hour-long simulation session. To accommodate all learners, the simulation was conducted eight times over a block of scheduled time (two to four learners/session). Sessions included a prebriefing, pre/post questionnaires, the ARS case, and a debriefing. Learners evaluated and managed a 47-year-old male (manikin) with the hematopoietic and cutaneous subsyndromes of ARS who presented with hand pain/erythema/edema and underlying signs of infection 2 weeks after an unrecognized radiation exposure. Learners had to perform a history and physical, recognize/manage abnormal vitals, order/interpret labs, consult appropriate disciplines, and initiate supportive care. Results There was a mean reported increase in ability to recognize signs and symptoms of ARS (p < .001) and appropriately manage a patient with this condition (p = .03) even after controlling for baseline confidence in ability to make and manage uncommon diagnoses, respectively. Learners rated this simulation as a valuable learning experience, effective in teaching them how to diagnose and treat ARS, and one they would recommend to other health care professionals. Discussion This simulation aimed to teach the diagnosis and initial management of the hematopoietic and cutaneous subsyndromes of ARS. It should be used to increase awareness of the potential for ionizing radiation exposure under less obvious conditions and raise the index of suspicion for ARS in the undifferentiated patient. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:38:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c2d7d3cd11341e1ad90c62df46a083d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:38:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c2d7d3cd11341e1ad90c62df46a083d2023-08-02T04:00:07ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652023-08-011910.15766/mep_2374-8265.11331Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)Mel Ebeling0Andrew Bloom1Mary M. Boggiano2Dawn Taylor Peterson3Todd Peterson4Third-Year Medical Student, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of MedicineAssistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at BirminghamAssociate Professor, Department of Medical Education, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of MedicineAssociate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of MedicineIntroduction Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) is a high-risk, low-frequency diagnosis that can be fatal and is difficult to diagnose without an obvious history of ionizing radiation exposure. Methods Twenty-two emergency medicine residents and one pharmacy resident participated in an hour-long simulation session. To accommodate all learners, the simulation was conducted eight times over a block of scheduled time (two to four learners/session). Sessions included a prebriefing, pre/post questionnaires, the ARS case, and a debriefing. Learners evaluated and managed a 47-year-old male (manikin) with the hematopoietic and cutaneous subsyndromes of ARS who presented with hand pain/erythema/edema and underlying signs of infection 2 weeks after an unrecognized radiation exposure. Learners had to perform a history and physical, recognize/manage abnormal vitals, order/interpret labs, consult appropriate disciplines, and initiate supportive care. Results There was a mean reported increase in ability to recognize signs and symptoms of ARS (p < .001) and appropriately manage a patient with this condition (p = .03) even after controlling for baseline confidence in ability to make and manage uncommon diagnoses, respectively. Learners rated this simulation as a valuable learning experience, effective in teaching them how to diagnose and treat ARS, and one they would recommend to other health care professionals. Discussion This simulation aimed to teach the diagnosis and initial management of the hematopoietic and cutaneous subsyndromes of ARS. It should be used to increase awareness of the potential for ionizing radiation exposure under less obvious conditions and raise the index of suspicion for ARS in the undifferentiated patient.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11331Acute Radiation SyndromeCBRNEIonizing RadiationOccupational ExposuresUncommon DiagnosisCase-Based Learning |
| spellingShingle | Mel Ebeling Andrew Bloom Mary M. Boggiano Dawn Taylor Peterson Todd Peterson Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) MedEdPORTAL Acute Radiation Syndrome CBRNE Ionizing Radiation Occupational Exposures Uncommon Diagnosis Case-Based Learning |
| title | Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) |
| title_full | Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) |
| title_fullStr | Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) |
| title_short | Employing High-Fidelity Simulation for the High-Risk, Low-Frequency Diagnosis and Management of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) |
| title_sort | employing high fidelity simulation for the high risk low frequency diagnosis and management of acute radiation syndrome ars |
| topic | Acute Radiation Syndrome CBRNE Ionizing Radiation Occupational Exposures Uncommon Diagnosis Case-Based Learning |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11331 |
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