Igniting activation: Using unannounced standardized patients to measure patient activation in smoking cessation

Educational effectiveness of simulation in teaching health science students Smoking cessation: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Simulation is one of the educational tools that can be used in the learning process to help with smoking cessation.

AIM

To synthesize all the publications studying the contribution of simulation as an educational tool in the acquisition of skills to help with smoking cessation.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of the Francophone and Anglophone literature over the past 24 years (1997 to 2020) using the PubMed, Science Direct and Cochrane Library databases.

RESULTS

A total of 14 articles were included. The most used methods were thestandardized patient, role play and video projection with discussion. The simulation hasnot only proved its effectiveness in terms of acquiring knowledge and self-confidencein the management of the smoking patient in the short term, but also in the acquisition of verbal and non-verbal skills in the long term.

CONCLUSION

This review highlighted the interest of simulation as an educational tool to acquire skills to help with smoking cessation regardless of the method used.

Assessment of adequacy of respiratory infection prevention in hospitals of Inner Mongolia, China: a cross-sectional study using unannounced standardized patients

INTRODUCTION

Recent respiratory infectious disease (RID) outbreaks of influenza and the novel coronavirus have resulted in global pandemics. RIDs can trigger nosocomial infections if not adequately prevented.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to rate the adequacy of healthcare workers (HCWs) and hospital settings on RID prevention using unannounced standardized patients (USP) in clinical settings of hospital gateways.

METHODS

Trained USPs visited 5 clinical settings: information desks, registration desks, two outpatient departments and the emergency departments in 10 hospitals across 3 cities of Inner Mongolia, China. USPs observed the hospital air ventilation and distance from the nearest hand-washing facilities to each clinical setting, then mimicked symptoms of either tuberculosis or influenza before observing the HCW's behavior. A total of 480 clinical-setting assessments were made by 19 USPs.

RESULTS

The overall adequacy of triage services was 86.7% and for prevention of the spread of airborne droplets was 83.5%. Almost all hospitals offered adequate air ventilation. Compared to the information desk, adequacy of triage and preventing the spread of airborne droplets by physicians in the three clinical departments was less likely to be adequate. Triage services for USPs simulating symptoms of influenza were 2.6 times more likely to be adequate than for those simulating symptoms of tuberculosis but there was no significant difference in the prevention of the spread of airborne droplets.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need to improve respiratory infectious disease procedures in our study hospitals, especially in outpatient and emergency departments.