Bridging Emergency Care Training Gaps Through In-Situ Interdisciplinary Simulation: A Pilot Study from a Tertiary Hospital in Rwanda

Background: Emergency medicine is a rapidly developing specialty in Rwanda, with King Faisal Hospital, Rwanda (KFHR) playing a pivotal role as one of the teaching hospitals in the country. While simulation-based training is globally recognized for its effectiveness, its implementation at KFHR has been limited, especially in in-situ and interdisciplinary formats. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the first interdisciplinary in-situ simulation training at KFHR by assessing participants’ understanding of essential team dynamics concepts, including closed-loop communication, knowledge sharing, role clarity, and recognition of limitations. Additionally, it examined the training's impact on participant satisfaction and perceived usefulness for clinical practice. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted over three months, involving 37 emergency department clinicians (73% nurses, 22% physicians, and 5% other faculty, including healthcare assistants and medical students). Participants completed a bilingual (English and Kinyarwanda) post-intervention survey. The survey included multiple-choice questions assessing comprehension of team dynamics concepts and Likert-scale items evaluating satisfaction and perceived applicability. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Post-training, 86.5% of participants correctly answered the question assessing closed-loop communication, 40.5% correctly answered the question on knowledge sharing, and 92% correctly responded to the question on awareness of personal limitations during resuscitations. The average satisfaction score was 4.5 out of 5, and 89% reported they were likely or very likely to apply the skills in practice. Over 90% found the simulation cases relevant to real clinical scenarios. Feedback highlighted opportunities to improve communication consistency and team coordination. Discussion: These findings suggest that interdisciplinary in-situ simulation training can strengthen team dynamics, improve provider confidence, and enhance preparedness for emergency care delivery. The high satisfaction scores and evidence of learning support simulation as a valuable educational tool in resource-limited settings. As emergency medicine expands across Africa, this model offers a replicable framework to improve training and clinical outcomes.