MO1051: Standardized Simulation Education Program with Summative Assessment on Exchange Procedure of Ultrabag System for Peritoneal Dialysis: Innovations in Practical Recommendations

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Inexperience in practicing peritoneal dialysis (PD) and lack of standard education program under the instruction of qualified renal nurses are known causes of peritonitis in patients with chronic renal failure [1]. Thus far, the standardized and validated curriculum for Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) training has not been well-established under simulation-based education model [2]. We aimed i) to develop a well-structured and standardized educational training program on exchange procedure of Ultrabag system and ii) to evaluate the degree of acquisition in domains of cognitive (knowledge) and psychomotor (skills) by summative assessment using valid and reliable knowledge evaluation index and performance checklist. METHOD Following an invention of 3D-printed CAPD device, ‘Helping Hands’ in closed system operation, the Renal Unit in the Department of Medicine and Multi-Disciplinary Simulation and Skills Centre (MDSSC) in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) formulated a standard 5-day CAPD training to equip PD patients with knowledge and skills for safe Ultrabag exchange. In order to optimize training effectiveness and assessment standards, the program was designed with ‘6 (+2 additional) guiding questions’ from the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) document [3]. Scoring Checklist with specific and relevant items, such as fixation of the connecting catheter, parallel point-to-point connection and procedures in placing disinfection cap, could strengthen internal validity. RESULTS In 2021, 17 CAPD patients with partial impairment in vision (12, 71%) or eye-hand coordination (13, 77%) attended this education program. Post-training assessment showed that participants had improved cognitive knowledge (M = 71%; A Grade (>80 marks) = 5, 29% B Grade (60–80 marks) = 9, 53%; C Grade (<60 marks) = 3, 18%) and psychomotor skills (100% achievement in simulation task). Except for 1 participant who required additional training session and re-assessment, 94% of them passed the simulation examination by completing all procedures without any assistance in one-take. A validated educator-guided scheme of psychomotor skills in proper use of CAPD is recommended with six operational phases: CONCLUSION Repetitive performance in task-specific procedure of bag exchange, coupled with constructive feedback from experienced renal nurse educators and well-validated assessment (with a standardized scoring sheet and checklist), resulted in improved skill performance. The training program, correspondent with traditional concept of Miller's pyramid (1990), demonstrated how CAPD novice turns skillful user by developing competence in cognition with factual knowledge of dialysis (‘Knows’) and verbalization of rationale and flows of PD (‘Knows How’); and competence in behavior with simulation practice with CAPD device (‘Shows’) and summative assessment demonstrating mastery of safe bag exchange skills to be integrated into everyday practice (‘Does’). Further studies may be warranted to investigate whether knowledge and skills acquired before use of CAPD could be carried over time and on how education program accounts for risk minimization of CAPD-related peritonitis and survival rate.