The error room : a simulation-based tool for enhancing patient in critical care

Background: Simulation-based learning is increasingly recognized as a key strategy in healthcare education, particularly in high-risk environments such as intensive care units (ICUs). The “Error Room” is an innovative simulation-based intervention that recreates real-life ICU settings with deliberately embedded errors, aiming to strengthen healthcare professionals’ ability to detect and manage safety threats. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Error Room in improving error detection and promoting patient safety in a critical care context. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the ICU of Mohammed VI University Hospital of Tangier, involving 42 healthcare professionals, including medical students, nurses, interns, and residents. Participants completed three simulation scenarios of increasing complexity, each containing ten predefined critical errors. Outcomes included error detection rates, response times, and self-reported confidence levels. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of higher performance. Results: The overall error detection rate across all scenarios was 68%, with higher detection rates observed among residents and nurse anesthetists. Mean confidence levels increased significantly from 3.5 ± 1.1 presimulation to 4.3 ± 0.9 post-simulation. The mean response time for error identification was 3.7 ± 1.2 minutes. ICU experience, prior simulation training, professional status, and post-simulation confidence were significant predictors of higher error detection rates, whereas longer response times were associated with poorer performance. Conclusion: The Error Room is an effective simulation-based educational tool that enhances error detection skills and supports patient safety in ICU settings. Its integration into routine critical care training programs is warranted, although further studies are needed to assess long-term impact and generalizability.