A national training program for simulation educators and technicians: evaluation strategy and outcomes

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Simulation-Based Education (SBE)
• Medical Simulation Training

Background:

• Simulation-based education (SBE) has rapidly expanded in health professions education.
• A competent faculty is crucial for high-quality SBE.
• The Australian Simulation Educator and Technician Training (AusSETT) Program was developed to address the need for enhanced SBE quality and scale.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the large-scale Australian Simulation Educator and Technician Training (AusSETT) Program.
• To assess the impact of the train-the-trainer model on simulation educators and technicians.
• To inform future national strategies for simulation workforce development.

Main Methods:

• A train-the-trainer model incorporating workshops and e-learning modules.
• Multi-stakeholder, objectives-oriented evaluation strategy with data collection at immediate and two-month follow-up points.
• Analysis of quantitative (descriptive statistics) and qualitative (thematic analysis) data from participant evaluations, observer reports, and interviews.

Main Results:

• High ratings for content and educational methods, exceeding pre-established standards.
• Participants reported positive impacts on their educational practices.
• Observers noted a high-quality educational experience aligned with participant needs.

Conclusions:

• The AusSETT Program is a valuable and sustainable learning resource for developing a competent simulation workforce.
• The national training program model is feasible and largely met its objectives.
• Evaluation findings provide insights for refining future national simulation education strategies.