Impact of multi-professional simulation-based training on perceptions of safety and preparedness among health workers caring for coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Pakistan

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate perceptions of safety and preparedness among health workers caring for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients before and after a multi-professional simulation-based course in Pakistan. Health workers’ perceptions of preparedness, safety, and their willingness to care for COVID-19 patients were measured before and after they attended a simulation-based training course to prepare them to care for COVID-19 patients at Combined Military Hospital Landi Kotal Cantt, from March 1 to April 30, 2020. The participants’ perceived level of safety and preparedness to care for COVID-19 patients before the simulation-based course was low, but increased after completing it (P<0.05). They felt confident and were significantly more willing to care for patients with COVID-19 or other infections requiring strict isolation. Simulation-based training is an effective tool to improve perceptions of risk and readiness to deal with COVID-19 among medical and non-medical health workers in Pakistan.

COVID-19 Critical Care Simulations: An International Cross-sectional Survey

“…found signi cant improvement in all domains of personal strengths among 1,415 hospital staff members [19]. 65.9% of the surveyed staff in our study were highly or fully engaged during the sessions in comparison to 3.2% for whom engagement was little and minimal; Khan and Kiani found that the participants in their simulation courses believed from the start that their colleagues who did not attend the course were less prepared to handle COVID-19 patients [24]. At the end of the course, this perception was strengthened.…”

COVID-19 critical care simulations: An international cross-sectional survey

“…In a COVID-19 simulation assessment, Cheung et al found significant improvement in all domains of personal strengths among 1,415 hospital staff members [(Cheung et al, 2020)]. 65.9% of the surveyed staff in our study were highly or fully engaged during the sessions in comparison to 3.2% for whom engagement was little and minimal, Khan and Kiani found that the participants in their simulation courses believed from the start that their colleagues who did not attend the course were less prepared to handle COVID-19 patients [(Khan and Kiani, 2020)]. At the end of the course, this perception was strengthened.…”

Reflections as 2020 comes to an end: the editing and educational environment during the COVID-19 pandemic, the power of Scopus and Web of Science in scholarly publishing, journal statistics, and appreciation to reviewers and volunteers

“…The number of submitted manuscripts has increased by 95% in 2020 (from 146 in 2019 to 285 as of December 25, 2020). JEEHP has also published some articles related to COVID-19, including an editorial [ 4 ], training materials [ 5 ], and a research article [ 6 ]. However, it is not fully evident how to interpret this increase in submissions.…”

“…I am happy that this editorial may contribute to health personnel’s safety. Furthermore, guidelines for distancing in daily life [ 5 ], and multi-professional simulation-based training on perceptions of safety and preparedness [ 6 ] will be helpful to overcome the present pandemic conditions.…”