Treinamento simulado de soft skills com profissionais de saúde atuantes em unidades de terapia intensiva: uma revisão de escopo

Abstract

Current healthcare settings require professionals to acquire not only technical skills but also socio-emotional competencies, commonly referred to as soft skills or social abilities. In critical care environments, such as Intensive Care Units (ICUs), the management of these soft skills proves to be relevant. In this context, simulation-based training presents itself as a viable alternative for the acquisition of these competencies by professionals working in such units. To clarify the variables related to this type of training, a scoping review was conducted in order to identify the scientific evidence available in the literature on simulation-based training of soft skills with ICU professionals. The review was guided by the model proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and followed the recommendations of the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Searches were conducted between May and June 2025 in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and CINAHL databases. Eligible studies for this research included original articles, available in full electronically, addressing the topic of simulation-based soft skills training with professionals working in intensive care. No language or time restrictions were applied. After all screening steps, forty studies were included in this review. Most of the articles were published in English, and a considerable number were published in the last five years. The results show that the most frequently addressed soft skills in the training programs were communication, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making. The simulations covering these skills were based on real clinical situations, requiring participants to master these competencies. Scenarios such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, burn management, and end-of-life communication were among the most frequently reported. Regarding the simulation characteristics, in situ training was the most prevalent, with clinical simulation being the most prominent approach. Nurses stood out as the most frequently involved professionals in the training sessions. Overall, participants’ perceptions of the training programs were highly positive. The main limiting factors identified were the risk of bias, small sample sizes, and the limited generalizability of the findings. It is hoped that the evidence gathered in this review will help support future research and initiatives, especially within the Brazilian context.