Enhancing health care non-technical skills: the TINSELS programme

Area of Science:

• Healthcare education
• Patient safety
• Interprofessional learning

Background:

• Non-technical skills (social and cognitive) are crucial in healthcare but how they are taught is under-researched.
• Existing literature often focuses on the success of training rather than the methods.
• The Training In Non-technical Skills to Enhance Levels of Medicines Safety (TINSELS) programme was developed to address this gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and pilot a theoretically robust teaching package for non-technical skills.
• To enhance medicine safety through simulation-based interprofessional learning.
• To provide a replicable training model for healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi process identified learning outcomes.
• Multi-professional teams participated in a three-session simulation-based intervention.
• Sessions included simulated ward activities, debriefing, and error identification exercises.

Main Results:

• The TINSELS program received high satisfaction ratings (mean scores >4).
• Qualitative feedback highlighted the authenticity of interprofessional group interactions.
• A safety attitudes questionnaire showed improved attitudes towards care handover and workplace safety.

Conclusions:

• The developed TINSELS program is an original, simulation-based, multi-professional training initiative.
• Learning and assessment materials are available for widespread dissemination and replication.
• The program demonstrates a viable method for enhancing non-technical skills to improve medicine safety.