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Sim for Life: Foundations-A Simulation Educator Training Course to Improve Debriefing Quality in a Low Resource
Traci Robinson1, Data Santorino, Mirette Dube
1From the Department of Pediatrics (J.B., N.S., A.C.), Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Global Health Unit (T.R.), University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Mbarara University of Science and Technology (D.S., M.T., J.N.N., M.C., C.K., F.B.), Mbarara, Uganda; eSIM Provincial Program (M.D.), Alberta Health Services; Department of Emergency Medicine (I.W.), University of Calgary; KidSIM Simulation Program (Y.L.), Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Operations Training, Oceaneering (H.L.), Sandnes; Formerly of: SAFER (D.E.L.); and The Norwegian Healthcare Investigation Board (D.E.L.), Stavanger, Norway.
This study shows that the Sim for Life Foundations faculty development program significantly enhances debriefing skills for simulation educators. These improved debriefing skills were retained for at least 12 months post-training.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Simulation
- Professional Development
Background:
- Debriefing is crucial in healthcare simulation, yet effective training programs are not well-established.
- This study assesses a faculty development program for simulation educators in Uganda.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Sim for Life: Foundations faculty development program.
- To determine if debriefing skills improve and are retained after training.
Main Methods:
- Healthcare professionals attended a 2-day simulation educator course focusing on debriefing.
- Debriefing quality was assessed using the Objective Structured Assessment of Debriefing (OSAD) tool before and after training, and at 12 months.
- Videotaped debriefings were evaluated by blinded raters.
Main Results:
- Mean OSAD scores significantly improved from pretraining (18.2) to posttraining (26.7) (P < 0.001).
- Skills were retained at 12 months with no significant decay (25.5 pre-refresher, 27.0 post-refresher).
- Refresher training did not significantly alter scores.
Conclusions:
- The Sim for Life Foundations program effectively improves debriefing skills.
- These enhanced debriefing skills demonstrate significant retention at 12 months.
