The Development and Effectiveness of a Web-Based Emergency Management Educational Program for Long-Term Care Facility...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) house elderly residents with complex health conditions, increasing the risk of emergencies.
• Effective collaborative emergency management by interprofessional teams is crucial for patient safety in LTCFs.
• A shared mental model (SMM) is vital for enhancing team collaboration and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a web-based educational program for LTCF interprofessional practitioners focused on building a shared mental model (SMM).
• To improve collaborative emergency management skills and patient safety within LTCFs.

Main Methods:

• A network-based instructional system design (analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation) was employed.
• A web-based educational program was developed based on SMM principles.
• 54 participants from four South Korean LTCFs completed the program.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in communication knowledge, confidence, role recognition, transactive memory system, and team effectiveness.
• The program positively impacted interprofessional collaboration and team reliability in emergency management.
• Enhanced emergency management processes and patient safety were noted in LTCFs.

Conclusions:

• The SMM-based web educational program effectively improved interprofessional collaboration and emergency management in LTCFs.
• This intervention enhances team performance and patient safety, crucial for high-risk elderly populations.
• The findings support the integration of SMM-focused training in LTCF settings.