Service evaluation of a COVID-19 critical care orientation programme

Area of Science:

• Healthcare worker training
• Pandemic preparedness
• Critical care nursing

Background:

• South London experienced high COVID-19 critical care admissions during the pandemic's first wave.
• A hospital offered an orientation workshop for staff redeployed to critical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate training outcomes for staff redeployed to critical care.
• Assess the effectiveness of a rapid orientation workshop during the COVID-19 pandemic (March-July 2020).

Main Methods:

• A two-stage evaluation was employed: immediate post-workshop questionnaires and a two-month follow-up e-survey.
• 131 health professionals attended the workshop; 124 completed immediate evaluations.
• A follow-up e-survey achieved a 34% response rate (n=40) from 116 contacted staff.

Main Results:

• The workshop received positive evaluations overall.
• 70% of respondents (n=28) had volunteered for critical care roles.
• 52% of respondents (n=21) ultimately worked in critical care settings.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights the importance of a pedagogical approach in training redeployed staff.
• The workshop successfully delivered clinical content and reduced anxiety for healthcare professionals.
• Effective training is crucial for organizational response during unprecedented health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.