Immersive Simulation Education: A Novel Approach to Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Abstract

Pandemic management involves strategic and tactical concepts rarely experienced with other disasters. To comprehend the enormity of these tasks and experience the critical decision-making required, local public health and other stakeholders participate in tabletop and functional exercises. Students in Master of Public Health (MPH) programs not only rarely experience this educational format, but also are seldom afforded substantive time to appreciate the critical decision making that is unique to pandemics. An immersive semester-long simulation exercise was created to educate graduate public health students about pandemics. Students in a MPH course were divided into groups representing county health departments. During the semester, students collaborated and completed incident command training, received audio lectures, and materials concerning an imminent pandemic. The students then participated in the 2.5-hr facilitated tabletop exercises in the classroom. A survey was developed to assess their perceptions of the experience. Most students felt more knowledgeable afterward and thought that this training style was innovative, entertaining, educational, and recommended it to fellow students and colleagues. The students believed that delivering a tabletop exercise in this fashion was educational and entertaining. It gave the students a better appreciation of the role of public health in managing the complexities associated with pandemics.

Educating, training, and exercising for infectious disease control with emphasis on cross-border settings: an integrative review

“… Multi-methods, including presentations, simulation, table-top exercise, technical consultation and discussion RR −/167 (−) RR −/167 (−) – – Knowledge test – – – Qureshi K.A., 2004, USA, [ 66 ] – PH nurses Recruited Emergency preparedness Columbia University faculty members and School Health Program staff, senior leadership from the NYC–DOHMH Developed in consultation with the NYC–DOHMH School Health Program administration; based on CDC’s Emergency Preparedness Core Competencies for All Public Health Workers. Training 4 h Based on the basic public health emergency preparedness competencies Presentations and readables RR 678/764 (89) RR 678/764 (89) RR 230/764 (30) Rating statements Knowledge tests; Self-assessed knowledge; Self-assessed attitude – – – Rega P.P., 2013, USA, [ 67 ] – Students in the master of PH – Pandemic preparedness and response – – Education & a table-top exercise Semester – 1) education, 2) audio materials mimicking a growing pandemic. 3) Tabletop exercise, groups representing counties, group response.…”

The Zombie Virus Pandemic: An Innovative Simulation Integrating Virology, Population Health, and Bioethics for Preclinical Medical Students

“…11 Several educators have previously published outbreak-or pandemic-related instructional activities for medical trainees. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Although most these activities, like ours, use an interactive, small-group format and some also involve self-directed learning, the learning content of focus among these resources differs from that of our simulation. For example, Lindemann, Owens, Qualm, Frentz, and Kevghas developed a tabletop exercise for third-year medical students on a simulated influenza pandemic, which focuses on concepts of incident command, disaster planning, health care system management, and communication between government and health care parties.…”

Obstetric simulation for a pandemic

“…From prior pandemics and disasters, it is evident that simulation is one of the most effective ways to practice new protocols and identify gaps in knowledge and preparation. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 Communication, teamwork, and process efficiency are dramatically increased with simulations, which is why they are quickly being adapted as an essential part of medical training for small team events like codes and postpartum hemorrhages and large-scale, multi-hospital emergencies, disasters, and pandemics.…”