Efficacy of Simulation for Caregivers of Children With a Tracheostomy

Simulation training of caregivers at hospital discharge of patients with chronic diseases: an integrative review

OBJECTIVE

to identify evidence about the use and effects of clinical simulation for preparing caregivers for discharging patients with chronic conditions.

METHODS

an integrative peer review in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ScienceDirect and Virtual Health Library databases, from July to September 2022.

RESULTS

3,218 studies were identified, with a final sample consisting of four national and two international articles. Using simulation as an educational technology contributed to caregiver preparation in home care. In most studies, using clinical simulation included using other strategies to complement training: expository dialogued class, conversation circle and audiovisual resources.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

simulation proved to be efficient for training caregivers, with the active participation of family members and nurses in health education actions.

Experiences of patients' primary caregivers with tracheostomy suctioning before discharge

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the experiences of primary caregivers of patients with tracheostomies on the tracheostomy suctioning procedure.

METHODS

This is a semi-structured qualitative study of 11 primary caregivers of patients with tracheostomies in one university hospital in a province in northwest Turkey. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview technique with the primary caregivers of the patients and interviews were audio-recorded. The content of the audio recordings obtained during each interview was evaluated by the researchers using the content analysis method. The data were categorized, coded, and analyzed by creating themes and sub-themes.

RESULTS

The experiences of primary caregivers with tracheostomy suctioning before discharge were classified under three themes and 11 sub-themes. The study's main themes were emotional reactions, information needs, and caring responsibility. Caregivers showed either positive or negative emotions when performed tracheostomy suctioning on their patients. Insufficient information on the patient care and recovery process were mostly emphasized topic by caregivers. Such that they express the knowledge deficiency on tracheostomy suctioning and counseling provided either by nurses/physicians. Thus compete with difficulties ends up with feelings of pressure and avoidance of caring responsibility.

CONCLUSION

Caregivers lack of knowledge and poor skills on tracheostomy suctioning ends up with fear, anxiety, and obstacles on patient caring. Implementing individualized education, supporting patients and their caregivers on tracheostomy suctioning, and following up on caregivers' abilities are valuable interventions.

Effects of the Discharge Education Program on Family Caregivers Caring for Patients on Mechanical Home Ventilation in Korea: A Pilot Test

Patients on home ventilators rely on mechanical ventilation until their death; hence, family caregivers should perform additional caregiving, including tracheostomy, equipment management, and positive pressure ventilation by ambu-bag in emergencies. Therefore, a systematic discharge education program and evaluation of actual caregiver performance are necessary for safe home management. The program consists of suction and tracheostomy management, home ventilator management, emergency management, fundamental caregiving, and video material. To test clinical validity, family caregivers of patients about to be discharged to their homes from S hospital in Seoul, Korea, were selected by convenience sampling with a non-equivalent control group design. Of 18 participants, one refused, one died, and two became unstable after their agreement; therefore, 14 participants were finally included. To compare caregiving performance scores between the groups, we ran repeated measures ANOVA. Intergroup and period interaction of suction ( F = 6.08, p = .001) and tracheostomy management ( F = 3.00, p = .038) crucial for airway management, showed significant statistical differences. In short, the intervention group showed a faster increase in suction and tracheostomy management than the control group. Home ventilator management ( F = 22.53, p < .001), emergency management ( F = 12.01, p < .001), and fundamental caregiving ( F = 7.88, p < .001) showed significant differences within the group regarding the period. According to the results of the clinical validity test, the discharge education program increased the family caregiver’s suction and tracheostomy management performance scores. Further research is needed to demonstrate long-term effects of the program with a larger sample.

Pediatric and Neonatal Tracheostomy Caregiver Education with Phased Simulation to Increase Competency and Enhance Coping

PURPOSE

Infants and children with medically complex needs depend on their caregivers for activities of daily life and specialized care of various devices they need to survive. Caregiver education is a primary goal in discharge planning to ensure safe, competent home care for these medically fragile children. Standard of care is bedside teaching. The Family Tracheostomy Program complements traditional training with a phased process of simulation. The purpose of this QA/QI project was to increase caregiver competency and decrease anxiety level for pediatric tracheostomy care through simulation training.

METHOD

For two years, the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units trained twenty caregivers of new tracheostomy patients with the supplementation of simulation to standard bedside training. Using a five-point rating scale, caregivers completed pre- and post- tests for separate skills and scenario training sessions.

RESULTS

Skills scores were hypothesized to increase after simulation training. In a small sample (n = 20), scores increased from pre-test (μ = 11.45, SD = 4.88) to post-test (μ = 22.6, SD = 2.01). This change was significant (t(19) = 10.78, p < 0.001). Scenario scores were hypothesized to increase after simulation training. In another small sample (n = 15), scores increased from pre-test (μ = 23.40, SD = 7.11) to post-test (μ = 28.73, SD = 2.31). This change was significant (t(14) = 3.78, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Simulation as a complement to bedside caregiver education increased caregiver competency and decreased anxiety levels for these samples.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Organizations caring for neonatal and pediatric tracheostomy patients might consider providing additional support with a phased method of simulation as part of caregiver education.

School Nurse Poverty Education: Why It Is Important to Your Practice

School nurses are seeing increased numbers of children who are living in poverty. The Missouri Community Action Program Poverty Simulation was presented to school nurses to increase their awareness of what it might be like to live in poverty and the related healthcare barriers. Participants shared their reactions and knowledge gained in the simulation in a postparticipation survey with the simulation facilitators. Some participants shared practice changes that they made as a result of their participation in the simulation, which included use of additional referral resources, being less judgmental, and increased empathy.

Gaining Experience Over Time: The Family Caregivers' Perception of Patients with a Tracheostomy in Home Care

Background

The transition of tracheostomy patients to the home poses many challenges for both the patient and the family. Identifying and understanding the experiences of family caregivers pave the road for discovering and meeting care needs. This study has been aimed to explain the experiences of family caregivers of patients with a tracheostomy about patient care at home.

Materials and Methods

This qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach from September 2018 to January 2019. Participants included nine family caregivers and one professional caregiver who were selected through purposive sampling method. The in-depth interviews were conducted at home or in health centers using field notes. Data were recorded manually and analyzed using the five-step method proposed by Granehim and Lundman.

Results

The data led to the emergence of 1591 initial codes, 23 subcategories, and 6 categories. Categories include the need for training, the need for receiving care support, care challenges, care burden, gaining experience, hope, and inner satisfaction.

Conclusions

In this study, the family caregivers faced with lots of challenges in caring patients with tracheostomy so that they were in needs of training and support from professionals. Although they got skillful in care and endure burden, they were so hopeful and satisfied with their attempts. Hence, there is a need for official nongovernmental organizations with the aim of maintaining care and protecting their families.

Improving attitudes toward poverty among DNP students: Implementing a Community Action Poverty Simulation©

ABSTRACT

Poverty has detrimental effects on health outcomes. Doctorally prepared nurse practitioners are in a position to promote health for patients and communities experiencing poverty. To do so, they must be aware of their own attitudes and to have empathy toward the condition of poverty. Specialized poverty simulations have been successfully used to improve attitudes toward poverty among prelicensure nursing students, but there is a paucity of evidence exploring the effects of poverty simulations among Students in a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) program. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a poverty simulation for students enrolled in a DNP program on their attitudes toward poverty. A quasi-experimental, pre-test and post-test survey design was used in this curriculum improvement project. A total of 29 DNP students participated in a 1-time, 4-hour Community Action Poverty Simulation© (CAPS). The simulations presented various challenges faced during 1 month of living in poverty. The Attitudes toward Poverty Scale-Short Form (ATPS-SF) was used to measure attitudes toward poverty both before and after the CAPS© experience. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to describe the participant group and measure the impact of the simulation on attitudes toward poverty. Attitudes toward poverty improved overall on all dimensions of the ATPS-SF after the CAPS© experience as compared to the pre-test, with particular improvement regarding stigmas related to poverty. Statistically significant improvements were detected on four items, and the overall favorable shift in attitudes presents clinically significant results. This poverty simulation experience should be considered for adoption into DNP curricula.