Training students to detect delirium: An interprofessional pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Simulation
• Interprofessional Learning

Background:

• The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends interprofessional teamwork and communication training.
• Interprofessional simulation offers a high-fidelity learning experience compared to siloed training.
• Healthcare providers often struggle to differentiate between dementia and delirium, highlighting a need for targeted education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nursing student knowledge acquisition and attitude changes after participating in an interprofessional simulation with medical students.
• To assess the impact of interprofessional simulation on delirium knowledge and attitudes towards teamwork and interprofessional education.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four nursing students completed pre- and post-surveys on delirium knowledge.
• Twelve nursing students participated in an interprofessional simulation with medical students, completing pre- and post-simulation attitude questionnaires.
• Knowledge and attitude data were analyzed to compare outcomes between simulation and non-simulation groups.

Main Results:

• Delirium knowledge scores improved in both simulation and non-simulation groups, with higher scores in the simulation group, though not statistically significant.
• The simulation group showed statistically significant improvements in attitudes towards simulation, interprofessional education, and teamwork post-simulation.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional simulation enhances nursing students' appreciation for communication, teamwork, situational awareness, and interprofessional roles.
• The findings support the integration of interprofessional simulation as an effective strategy in healthcare education.
• Simulation-based interprofessional education can foster essential skills for complex patient care.