The role of simulation in burns education

Simulations as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions: A scoping review to guide planning in speech-language pathology and audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Background

Simulation plays an important role as an alternative method for training of students, particularly in health education. As a result of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions of face-to-face interactions, traditional teaching methods have been disrupted, increasing the need for alternative methods to supplement modes of student clinical training in healthcare programmes.

Objectives

The scoping review aimed to determine what has been documented about simulation as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions (HCPs) in order to guide speech-language pathology and audiology (SLP&A) professions during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Method

A scoping review was conducted. Electronic bibliographic databases including Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus MEDLINE, ProQuest, Google Scholar and WorldCat were searched to identify peer reviewed publications, published in English, between January 2011 and December 2021, and related to the use of simulation in HCPs clinical training programmes.

Results

A total of 32 articles met the inclusion criteria for this scoping review. Three themes emerged when reviewing the studies: (1) face-to-face simulations as a mode of clinical training, (2) virtual reality simulation and telesimulation as modes of clinical training and (3) simulation as a complementary mode of clinical training. Evidence suggests that whilst simulations are cost-effective, accessible and efficacious as clinical training modes, they need to be combined with other modes of training such as the traditional clinical training to yield better learning outcomes.

Conclusions

Current findings highlight the role and value of simulation as a clinical training mode during COVID-19 and beyond. However, there are aspects that need to be considered to ensure that this mode of clinical training is effective, with endorsement and regulations by the SLP&A Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Simulations need to be complemented with traditional clinical training methods. In the context of SLP&A, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), simulation can be used to better prepare students for their clinical placement where clinical training platforms are limited and where simulation combined with teletraining or telesupervision can be utilised to increase access to training.

THE USE OF MOULAGE IN CLINICAL SIMULATION: MULTIPLE CASE STUDIES

Objective: identify how and why to use moulage within clinical simulation practices. Method: it is a multiple, inclusive, descriptive and exploratory case study with a qualitative approach. The cases were selected through an intentional sample. After applying the eligibility criteria, four cases of simulated scenarios that used moulage were included and analyzed. Results: all the cases analyzed were developed in extracurricular simulated clinical activities by facilitators with experience in clinical practices, teaching and simulation. The moulages used different techniques, promoting greater interaction with the learner through the use of stimulants of different sense organs, sharpening clinical reasoning, the development of skills, competences, among others. In the four cases, the moulage was performed on a simulated patient, in simulated scenarios and simulated video. The reasons described for moulage were: to provide realism, fidelity, easy application and low cost. Conclusion: it was possible to identify that the moulage is an adequate resource in clinical simulation and that when built with rigor and method, it influences the fidelity and realism of the simulated scenario.

O USO DA MOULAGE NA SIMULAÇÃO CLÍNICA: ESTUDO DE CASOS MÚLTIPLOS

Objetivo:identificar como e porque utilizar a moulage dentro das práticas de simulação clínica. Método: trata-se de estudo de casos múltiplos, inclusivo, de caráter descritivo e exploratório com abordagem qualitativa. Os casos foram selecionados por meio de uma amostra intencional. Após aplicação dos critérios de elegibilidade, foram incluídos e analisados quatro casos de cenários simulados que utilizaram moulage. Resultados: todos os casos analisados foram desenvolvidos em atividades clínicas simuladas extracurriculares por facilitadores com experiência em práticas clínicas, na docência e na área de simulação. As moulages utilizaram técnicas diferentes, promovendo maior interação com o aprendiz pelo uso de estimulantes de diferentes órgãos do sentido, aguçando o raciocínio clínico, o desenvolvimento de habilidades, competências, entre outros. Nos quatro casos, a moulage foi realizada em paciente simulado, em cenários simulados e vídeo simulado. Os motivos descritos para moulage foram: prover realismo, fidelidade, fácil aplicação e baixo custo. Conclusão: foi possível identificar que a moulage é um recurso adequando em simulação clínica e que quando construída com rigor e método, influencia na fidelidade e no realismo do cenário simulado.