Comparing Resource Management Skills in a High- versus Low-Resource Simulation Scenario: A Pilot Study

COVID-19 as an Accelerator of the Implementation of Emergency Medical Teams Initiative in the AFRO Region

OBJECTIVE

This study describes the progress that the World Health Organization (WHO) African (AFRO) region has made in establishing National Emergency Medical Teams (N-EMTs), the coordination mechanisms of the EMTs, and the regional training centers.

METHODS

It used a retrospective descriptive analysis of the formulation and implementation of the EMTs Initiative from an insider perspective. The analysis is based on the review of available documents such as EMTs mission reports, assessments, surveys, EMT monthly bulletins, and meeting minutes in addition to key informant interviews (n = 5) with the EMT teams' members to validate the findings and share field experiences.

RESULTS

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) acted as an accelerator for the implementation of the EMT initiative in the AFRO region. A total of 18 EMT deployments were carried out in 16 countries in the AFRO region through the WHO EMT-network during COVID-19, providing support to countries in managing severe and critical COVID-19 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

A Regional Training Center for N-EMTs is being set up in Addis Ababa to train the N-EMTs and strengthen local capacity of health personnel in the region. Challenges include unavailability of mentors to support countries in implementing N-EMTs and the Regional Simulation Training Center, poor funding, and coordination in the rolling out of the N-EMTs.

Simulation as a Teaching Method: Evaluation of the University of Minnesota Humanitarian Crisis Simulation

OBJECTIVE

The University of Minnesota Crisis Humanitarian Simulation provides trans-disciplinary training in disaster response. The course directors wished to better understand the learning outcomes and experiences of simulation participants.

METHODS

The learning outcomes and experiences of participants in the 2019 simulation were assessed using 3 modalities: 1) pre-and post-simulation test, 2) participants' self-assessment of learning, and 3) qualitative feedback via an anonymous evaluation.

RESULTS

Participant scores on the knowledge survey were significantly higher after the simulation than before the simulation (mean percent correct 71% vs. 48%, P < 0.0001). A significant majority of participants who completed the assessment believed they had main gains within each learning objective. Anonymous evaluations contained both positive feedback and constructive criticism leading to plans for refinements in subsequent training events.

CONCLUSIONS

The Humanitarian Crisis Simulation is an effective experiential training program that increases participants' knowledge in the field of disaster response. Participants also believed they had made gains in each learning objective. The authors' analysis of elements that have contributed to the success of the program and areas for future program growth and improvement are discussed.

Updates on Simulation in Obstetrical Anesthesiology Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Simulation has played a critical role in medicine for decades as a pedagogical and assessment tool. The labor and delivery unit provides an ideal setting for the use of simulation technology. Prior reviews of this topic have focused on simulation for individual and team training and assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for educators and leaders in obstetric anesthesiology to rapidly train health care providers and develop new protocols for patient care with simulation. This review surveys new developments in simulation for obstetric anesthesiology with an emphasis on simulation use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registered nurses' experience as disaster preparedness coordinators during a major incident: A qualitative study

Aims

To explore registered nurses’ experiences as disaster preparedness coordinators of hospital incident command groups’ during a major incident.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design using semi‐structured interview.

Methods

This was a qualitative study based on one focus group discussion and six individual follow‐up interviews. Participants were registered nurses in their capacity as disaster preparedness coordinators with experience from Major Incident simulations and a real‐life Major Incident. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used for reporting the findings.

Results

The analysis of data generated the main category: Expectations, previous experience and uncertainty affect hospital incident command group response during a Major Incident and three categories, (I) Gaining situational awareness (containing two subcategories), (II) Transitioning to management (containing three subcategories) and (III) Actions taken during uncertainty (containing two subcategories).