Training in healthcare during and after COVID-19: proposal for simulation training

Assessment of epidemic risk state and its change trend of public hospital in underdeveloped area in different stages

Objective

Epidemics are sudden and rapidly spreading. Hospitals in underdeveloped areas are particularly vulnerable in case of an outbreak. This paper aims to assess the epidemic risk state and its change trend of hospitals in different epidemic stages, identify the key factors affecting hospital epidemic risk change, provide priority reference for hospital epidemic risk control, and enhance the hospital's ability to respond to sudden epidemics.

Methods

Based on Grounded theory, the epidemic risk indicators that affect hospital safety are summarized. The concept of epidemic risk state and its random state space is proposed according to Markov chain theory. The impact of each indicator on the random risk state and its change is comprehensively assessed from two aspects: risk occurrence probability and risk loss. Finally, the assessment of the hospital epidemic risk state and its change at different stages is achieved.

Results

The stable risk states of public hospitals in underdeveloped areas in non-epidemic stage t0, early epidemic stage t1, and outbreak stage t2 areP ^ t 0 ( S n ) = { 0 . 142 , 0 . 546 , 0 . 220 , 0 . 093 } ,P ^ t 1 ( S n ) = { 0 . 025 , 0 . 364 , 0 . 254 , 0 . 357 } , andP ^ t 2 ( S n ) = { 0 . 020 , 0 . 241 , 0 . 191 , 0 . 548 } , respectively. In non-epidemic stage, the key factor in improving the hospital epidemic risk state is emergency funding. In early epidemic stage, the key factors in improving the hospital epidemic risk state are the training of medical staff in epidemic prevention skills and the management of public health. In outbreak state, the key factor in improving the hospital epidemic risk state is the training of medical staff in epidemic prevention skills and psychological awareness.

Conclusion

This paper proposes the concept of epidemic risk state, providing an effective assessment method for the epidemic risk state and its change trend in public hospitals. According to the assessment, public hospitals in underdeveloped areas in different epidemic stages should adopt different risk control strategies to improve their current risk state. Blind risk control is inefficient and may even cause the epidemic risk to transition toward a more dangerous state.

Shift handover qualification in obstetric unit during the pandemic period: reinventions and learning

OBJECTIVE

Qualify the shift handover in an Obstetric Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic period, through Permanent Health Education.

METHOD

Action research conducted in southern Brazil. The research was conducted from interviews with healthcare professionals and students and the data were analyzed using the Reflexive technique. Interventions took place in different work shifts, with the support of a serial album as a didactic and educational resource.

RESULTS

The data analysis made it possible to record experiences and the delineation of two thematic categories: From traditional approaches to the reinvention of learning in healthcare work; and From conformism to professional growth.

CONCLUSION

The shift handover in the Obstetric Unit, through Permanent Health Education, enabled autonomous, interactive, and cooperative learning; awakened the desire to transcend the work routine; and highlighted the need to continuously (re)signify the healthcare work process.

Assessment of the efficacy of a video-based hybrid teaching module of oxygen therapy and critical care area troubleshooting in nursing professionals managing COVID-19 patients

BACKGROUND

Video-based teaching has become rapidly popular during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The current study aimed to assess the efficacy of a hybrid video-based teaching module of oxygen therapy and critical care troubleshooting in nursing professionals managing COVID-19 patients in our institute.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective analytical study (pretest and posttest design) was conducted in our medical education department in March 2022 using the data from a workshop conducted on oxygen therapy and critical care area troubleshooting during COVID-19 patient management for 296 nursing professionals. A hybrid video-based teaching module was used. Pretest and posttest data were compared along with subgroup analysis. P value <0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Posttest scores were significantly higher than the baseline scores in the overall group as well as in all subgroups (P < 0.001). Subgroup comparisons revealed no significant difference in mean baseline pretest and posttest scores in male versus female participants. Baseline pretest scores (P = 0.02) and posttest scores (P = 0.08) were lower in the nurses of the noncritical areas compared to critical area nurses. Mean improvement in posttest score compared to baseline score was similar between all groups.

CONCLUSION

Hybrid technique involving both video aspects and in-person teacher presence for demonstration or troubleshooting improves perceived knowledge in nursing professionals with some prior formal training and may be superior to the conventional only didactic/lecture-based demonstrations, especially in the context of imparting rapid training during pandemics or similar urgent situations.

The Effect of Implementing COVID-19 Infection Control Precautions on Conducting Simulation-Based Training Activities

Introduction

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, onsite simulation training required infection control precautions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of implementing the infection control protocol on the participants' evaluation of simulation activities.

Materials and methods

The study included undergraduate female students from healthcare colleges in Princess Nourah University (PNU) who have attended simulation training events in the simulation and skills development center (SSDC). The study design was a cohort retrospective where data were retrieved from the SSDC participant evaluation database. The data included information related to participants' characteristics, simulation activities type, and learners' evaluation. The simulation activities included in the study were procedural simulation (PS) and full simulation (FS).

Results

The study included 837 subjects that were randomly chosen from January 2019 to December 2021. All participant's evaluations of simulation events conducted in the SSDC during the specified period were reviewed and randomly selected to be included in the study. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities were conducted under infection control protocol measures. There was a significant difference in evaluation results of FS and PS activities before and after implementing the COVID-19 infection control protocol (p-value < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study showed that conducting simulation activities in a simulation center under the infection control protocol does not negatively affect participants' evaluation of simulation events.