Organization and communication in critical situations: a national survey of French healthcare professionals involved in emergency care

BACKGROUND: Effective communication and team organization are critical to patient safety during emergencies. Although national guidelines in France highlight the importance of human factors, their implementation in clinical practice remains unclear. This study aimed to assess how organizational and communication tools are currently used by healthcare professionals involved in emergency care. METHODS: A nationwide survey was conducted in France using a 32-question online questionnaire designed to explore organization and communication practices during critical situations management. The questionnaire was distributed through social media platforms by the French Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care and the French Society of Emergency Medicine and was available from 1 October 2023 to 1 December 2023. The survey targeted physicians and paramedical staff regularly involved in critical situations. RESULTS: A total of 1493 respondents participated, of which 856 (58%) were female. Physicians represented 42% (n = 620) of the cohort. Most respondents (61%) reported being unfamiliar with the national guidelines on human factors in critical care. Utilization of structured communication tools during critical situations-such as closed-loop communication (31%), time-outs (16%), and debriefings (35%)-was limited, particularly among paramedical staff. Although respondents widely acknowledged the importance of communication, 90% reported receiving no or less than one theoretical training session per year, and 81% had minimal exposure to simulation-based communication training. CONCLUSION: In the context of critical situations management, the use of structured communication tools remains limited in France. Targeted interventions, particularly simulation-based training, are needed to strengthen the integration of these tools into routine care.