Transforming Trauma Teams Through Transactive Memory

Background In situ simulation holds promise to enhance the effectiveness of performance. However, a dearth of theory remains to explain the efficacy of simulation-based education within health care teams. Aim The aim of this study was to examine team cognitive processes across two trauma simulations and to identify whether these processes impact observer-rated performance. Method Twenty-four health care professionals within an emergency department participated in one of two 30-minute trauma scenarios. Before and after participating, they reported their team transactive memory perceptions. Performance in the scenarios was video recorded for evaluation. Results Participants reported significant increases in transactive memory ( p < .05) after participating in the trauma simulations. Furthermore, transactive memory was positively related to observer-rated performance ( r = .58, p < .01). Conclusion Our results suggest that simulation has potential to be an effective method to increase transactive memory perceptions among team members. In addition, the increase in transactive memory systems is associated with higher performance ratings. Further consideration concerning the design and evaluation of simulation-based training programs to facilitate the development of such cognitive processes among teams is recommended.