The Evaluation of the Effect of Rescuer Team Size on Nontechnical Skills in High-Fidelity Canine CPR Simulations Using the Trauma Non-Technical Skills Assessment Tool.

Six-rescuer teams demonstrated superior assessment and decision-making during canine CPR simulations.

This experimental study evaluated how rescuer team size affects nontechnical skills during high-fidelity canine cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) simulations. Forty-eight RCVR-certified veterinary students participated in 15 simulations with team configurations of 4, 6, and 8 rescuers. Performance was assessed using the Trauma Non-Technical Skills (T-NOTECHS) tool across five domains: assessment and decision-making, leadership, cooperation and resource management, communication and interaction, and situation awareness/coping with stress. While overall T-NOTECHS scores did not significantly differ among team sizes (p = 0.29), six-rescuer teams demonstrated statistically superior performance in the assessment and decision-making domain compared to four-rescuer teams (p = 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the remaining four domains across team sizes. These findings suggest an optimal team configuration of six members may enhance specific nontechnical competencies during canine CPR, though additional research is needed to determine whether this translates to improved technical CPR skills and patient outcomes.

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