Summary

Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise

Published: March 29, 2019
doi:

Summary

The blindfolded code training exercise, which blindfolds the team leader in a code resuscitation simulation, is an advanced teaching technique to improve closed-loop communication, organizational skills, and critical thinking. 

Abstract

Miscommunication is the most common cause of preventable patient harm in medicine. Currently, there is limited knowledge of innovative techniques to improve resident physician communication and leadership strategies in high-acuity situations. The blindfolded code training exercise removes visual stimuli from the team leader, forcing the team leader to effectively utilize closed-loop communication. The simple act of blindfolding the team leader creates a learning environment where the leader must utilize a conceptual framework and critical thinking strategies to organize the team and manage the resuscitation. An advantage to this teaching technique is that it does not require any special simulation equipment, making it a low-cost approach. The blindfolded code training exercise can be applied to the management of any critically ill patient where the primary objective is to focus on developing communication skills in acute resuscitations. The purpose of the description of the blindfolded code training exercise is to provide guidance on how to perform this innovative teaching technique to force effective closed-loop communication.

Introduction

The blindfolded code training exercise was developed to improve closed-loop communication, the utilization of a conceptual framework to organize the management of a resuscitation, and critical thinking skills. Previous scholars reported that communication, role clarity, and teamwork were enhanced by blindfolding physicians during simulated resuscitations1. Resident physicians, especially in critical care specialties, are frequently placed in high-acuity situations. In order to appropriately manage these high-risk cases, resident physicians require training in both leadership strategies and communication in high-risk environments2,3. Simulation is commonly used and is effective in teaching crisis resource management principles and communication skills4

Currently, there is limited knowledge of innovative techniques to improve resident physician communication and leadership strategies in high-acuity situations. Ineffective communication may continue despite correct management and leadership observed in the simulation lab. A previous study highlights that the blindfolded code training exercise, when compared to typical code training, is more challenging and forces learners to use critical thinking skills and closed-loop communication. Learners felt the exercise solidified leadership skills and challenged them to maintain mental organization without visual cues5

In preparation for the blindfolded code training exercise, the faculty provides a demonstration explaining how this advanced approach is performed, to decrease learner intimidation by the exercise. Once the demonstration is finished, the team leader is blindfolded. The team leader must use closed-loop communication and give explicit orders to the resuscitation team with a request to have all orders repeated back. The team cannot independently initiate any procedure or management without clear direction from the team leader. Team members can only execute orders from the team leader that are explicitly directed to them by name. If the team leader does not identify a specific person to perform the action, it is not performed. For example, if the team leader states, “Start compressions” without directing it to a specific team member, the order is not completed. All members of the team stand motionless. If a team member is given an order by the leader but is not requested to repeat the order as confirmation, the order can be executed but the team leader is not given verbal feedback at the completion of the order. This should prompt the team leader to ask that subsequent orders are to be repeated back, as the leader does not have visual stimuli to confirm order completion. 

If the team leader asks team members to repeat the orders back, team members must reply to the team leader using closed-loop communication. This alerts the team leader when the order is received and completed. For example, if team leader Dr. Jones asks John to “Give 1 mg of epinephrine intravenously”, John will reply “I will get 1 mg of epinephrine. Dr. Jones, 1 mg of epinephrine has been administered intravenously”. The team leader can ask questions about the monitor. However, team members can only describe the appearance of the cardiac rhythm in layman’s terms (Table 1). For example, ventricular tachycardia would be described as a wide complex regular rhythm at the rate displayed on the monitor. Team members cannot use medical terms when describing the cardiac monitor, such as ventricular tachycardia or pulseless electrical activity. Lastly, faculty will verbally clarify all physical exam findings if the code team leader directs a team member to perform a physical exam.

By removing visual stimuli, the blindfolded code training exercise forces the team leader to maintain mental organization and use closed-loop communication to effectively manage a resuscitation. The purpose of the description of the blindfolded code training exercise is to provide guidance on how to perform this innovative teaching technique to force closed-loop communication.

Protocol

All methods described here were exempt from review by the Summa Institutional Review Board.  1. Preparation Prepare the simulation lab prior to beginning the blindfolded code training exercise.  Prepare all supplies needed for code resuscitation, including an intravenous (IV) start kit, IV fluids, a code cart, a defibrillator with pads, a bag valve mask, a non-rebreather mask, a nasal cannula, a pulse oximeter, and intubating supplies (includi…

Representative Results

As noted in Ahmed et al., all residents (100%, 27/27) agreed/strongly agreed that knowledge obtained during the blindfolded code training exercise could be transferred to the clinical setting5. In addition, most residents strongly agreed that the blindfolded code training exercise was more challenging (81.5%, 22/27), allowed them to apply critical thinking skills (81.5%, 22/27), and improved use closed-loop communication (88.9%, 24/27) when compared to typical code training exercises (Tabl…

Discussion

The blindfolded code exercise consists of several critical steps. First, the exercise requires an initial faculty demonstration to decrease the learners’ intimidation and anxiety toward performing a resuscitation blindfolded. It also serves to give learners an example of a successful performance of the blindfolded resuscitation. Facing the code team leader away from the resuscitation team ensures that the leader is unable to visualize the scenario and forces them to give loud, clear orders (Fig…

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors have no acknowledgments.

Materials

Bag valve mask
Blindfold
Blood pressure cuff
Cardiac monitor
Chair
Code Cart ACLS medications
Defibrillator with pads
Emergency department bed
End-tidal carbon dioxde monitor
Human-patient simulator
Intubation Kit  endotracheal tube, laryngoscope, stylet, 10 mL syringe, endotracheal tube holder
IV fluids 1 L normal saline or lactated ringer's
IV start kit tourniquet, tape, tegaderm, IV catheter
Nasal cannula
Non-rebreather mask
Pulse oximeter
Step stool
Stethoscope

References

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Cite This Article
Hughes, P. G., Hughes, K. E., Ahmed, R. A. Setup and Execution Of the Blindfolded Code Training Exercise. J. Vis. Exp. (145), e59248, doi:10.3791/59248 (2019).

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