Distance learning and patient safety: Report and evaluation of an online patient safety course

The impact of digital learning on Saudi nursing students' engagement: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aimed to explore the perception of nursing students regarding their engagement in digital learning environments.

DESIGN

At one of universities in Saudi Arabia, a qualitative descriptive study design was used among nursing students from various academic levels.

METHODS

Data were collected using focus group discussions among a sample of 23 participants. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The COREQ Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research were used to report this study.

RESULTS

While sharing their perceptions the nursing students reflected on the behavioural and cognitive aspects of engagement, yet they did not include emotional aspects of engagement in their conceptualization. However, the results showed that, while they reflected on their experiences they tended to reflect on emotional aspects of engagement. According to the study's results, self-paced studying, reflective exercises, and interaction with audiovisual and dynamic content all encourage the activation of past knowledge in online learning. The learning modality also was found to be a safe and convenient approach among the participating students. Digital learning presents as a promising educational approach that extends beyond the pandemic yet, efforts should be put in place to facilitate the optimal student engagement to meet learning outcomes. Further research is needed to measure its impact on engagement and other pertinent indicators objectively.

Improving Safety through a Virtual Learning Collaborative

Background

Frontline healthcare safety leaders require expertise and confidence to manage local safety programs effectively yet are confronted with substantial challenges in identifying risk and reducing harm.

Methods

We convened a multidisciplinary safety learning collaborative in a children's hospital pediatric department and used the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Series model. Participants attended four virtual education sessions over 13 months (September 2020-September 2021) focused on identifying harm and using tools to improve safety. We analyzed departmental safety data monthly throughout the collaborative. The primary outcome was the development of improvement projects using direct application of the session content. The secondary outcome was participant confidence in improving safety via pre- and postsurveys.

Results

Seventy clinicians and quality consultants participated. Fifteen divisional safety improvement projects were initiated. The percentage of survey respondents who reported feeling "completely confident" in their ability to improve safety increased from 26% (n = 39) to 58% (n = 26) from September 2020 to September 2021 (P = 0.01) and maintained at 65% 1 year after the end of the collaborative. We observed a decrease in the mean rate of reported inpatient preventable and possibly preventable moderate/serious/catastrophic events per 1000 bedded days from 1.10 (baseline) to 0.71 (intervention period).

Conclusions

Through a collaborative effort in a virtual learning environment, we facilitated the development of fifteen safety projects, increased leaders' confidence in improving safety, and saw improved inpatient safety. This approach, which involves healthcare professionals from various disciplines, may be effectively adapted to other settings.

Exploring medical and nursing students' perceptions about a patient safety course: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Educating health professionals on patient safety can potentially reduce healthcare-associated harm. Patient safety courses have been incorporated into medical and nursing curricula in many high-income countries and their impact has been demonstrated in the literature through objective assessments. This study aimed to explore student perceptions about a patient safety course to assess its influence on aspiring health professionals at a personal level as well as to explore differences in areas of focus between medical and nursing students.

METHODS

A dedicated patient safety course was introduced for year III medical and year II and IV nursing students at the Aga Khan University (2021-2022). As part of a post-course assessment, 577 participating students (184 medical and 393 nursing) wrote reflections on the course, detailing its influence on them. These free-text responses were thematically analyzed using NVivo.

RESULTS

The findings revealed five major themes: acquired skills (clinical, interpersonal), understanding of medical errors (increased awareness, prevention and reduction, responding to errors), personal experiences with patient safety issues, impact of course (changed perceptions, professional integrity, need for similar sessions, importance of the topic) and course feedback (format, preparation for clinical years, suggestions). Students reported a lack of baseline awareness regarding the frequency and consequences of medical errors. After the course, medical students reported a perceptional shift in favor of systems thinking regarding error causality, and nursing students focused on human factors and error prevention. The interactive course format involving scenario-based learning was deemed beneficial in terms of increasing awareness, imparting relevant clinical and interpersonal skills, and changing perspectives on patient safety.

CONCLUSIONS

Student perspectives illustrate the benefits of an early introduction of dedicated courses in imparting patient safety education to aspiring health professionals. Students reported a lack of baseline awareness of essential patient safety concepts, highlighting gaps in the existing curricula. This study can help provide an impetus for incorporating patient safety as a core component in medical and nursing curricula nationally and across the region. Additionally, patient safety courses can be tailored to emphasize areas identified as gaps among each professional group, and interprofessional education can be employed for shared learning. The authors further recommend conducting longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impact of such courses.

Students' knowledge, attitude and practices towards pressure ulcer prevention and management

Background

Student nurses provide nursing care to patients during clinical allocation, and their competence may affect the quality of care given to the patients. Good knowledge and positive attitudes enhance early detection for prevention and management of pressure ulcers.

Aim

To determine undergraduate nursing students' knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) towards prevention and management of pressure ulcers.

Setting

A nursing education institution in Windhoek, Namibia.

Methods

A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was used to conveniently sample (n = 50) student nurses and collect data using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using the statistical software programme (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive frequencies were applied, and Fishers exact test was performed. A statistical value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Fifty (n = 50) student nurses consented to participate in the study. Student nurses reported good levels of knowledge (n = 35; 70%), attitude (n = 39; 78%), practices (n = 47; 94%). There was no statistically significant association between demographic variables and the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices, p > 0.05.

Conclusion

Student nurses have good knowledge, positive attitudes and practices on prevention and management of pressure ulcers. By the implications, the study concludes that the nursing students will competently manage the pressure ulcers occurring in the clinical setting. An observational study is recommended to assess practices in the clinical setting.

Contribution

The findings of this study will help to close the gap in the implementation of standard operating procedures for the prevention and management of pressure ulcers.

Nurses' perceptions of nursing education transformation and its impact on care delivery in Singapore

AIMS

To explore nurses' perceptions of the transformation in Singapore's nursing education and its impact on the delivery of nursing care.

BACKGROUND

Nursing education in Singapore has sailed through a sea of changes, from the apprenticeship model of training in hospitals to institutions of higher learning. Limited primary studies have explored the evolution of nursing education, and none have explored its impact on the delivery of nursing care, based on nurses' perceptions.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative design with purposive and snowball sampling was used to recruit 18 experienced nurses from local teaching institutions and healthcare clusters. Semistructured individual face-to-face interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research reporting guideline was used to report the study.

FINDINGS

Five themes emerged: 'evolution of the nursing education approach', 'clinical learning environments', 'evaluation of changes in the nursing education approach', 'attitudes toward the provision of various levels of education' and 'influences of various competencies on the delivery of nursing care'.

CONCLUSION

Changes in teaching pedagogies, learning, assessment, curriculum structure, content and clinical learning environment were commonly reported, which provided insights into understanding nursing education transformation and its impact on nursing practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION

The findings could better prepare nurses for the demanding needs of the contemporary healthcare landscape. Nurse educators and leaders should evaluate gaps in nursing education and implement strategies to improve students' learning experiences and outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY

Policy-makers can draw on our findings to revise the core competencies guidelines and improve future training by supporting the healthcare needs of society.

Technologies for health education about foreign-body airway obstruction: an integrative review

OBJECTIVE

To analyze technologies developed for health education about airway obstruction.

METHOD

Integrative review through search in the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, and Scopus. Original studies, with no time and language restrictions, were selected. The data were extracted by two independent researchers and organized into synoptic tables. Result integration was based on the data reduction method.

RESULTS

The eight included articles were published in Brazilian and international journals and were predominantly methodological. The identified technologies were applications, online courses, 3D animations, booklet, and website. The theme was approached among the contents of Basic Life Support. An absence of technologies approaching the theme with accessibility was observed.

CONCLUSION

The identified technologies were digital and printed, presenting content validity and effectivity for use in education and health. Even so, there is gap in studies highlighting specific educational technologies on airway obstruction.

Quality and Safety in Healthcare for Medical Students: Challenges and the Road Ahead

Background: The development of skills, behaviors and attitudes regarding patient safety is of utmost importance for promoting safety culture for the next generation of health professionals. This study describes our experience of implementing a course on patient safety and quality improvement for fourth year medical students in Mexico during the COVID-19 outbreak. The course comprised essential knowledge based on the patient safety curriculum provided by the WHO. We also explored perceptions and attitudes of students regarding patient safety. Methods: Fourth year medical students completed a questionnaire regarding knowledge, skills, and attitudes on patient safety and quality improvement in medical care. The questionnaire was voluntarily answered online prior to and after the course. Results: In total, 213 students completed the questionnaires. Most students were able to understand medical error, recognize failure and the nature of causation, perform root-cause analysis, and appreciate the role of patient safety interventions. Conversely, a disapproving perspective prevailed among students concerning the preventability of medical errors, utility of reporting systems, just culture and infrastructure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found students had a positive perspective concerning learning quality in healthcare and patient safety during our course; nevertheless, their perception of the usefulness of reporting systems to prevent future adverse events and prevent medical errors is uncomplimentary. Medical education should promote error reporting and just culture to change the current perception of medical students.