Caregiver Codesigned Simulation Training for Paediatric Intellectual Disability Emergency Care.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Professional Education
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience significant distress in emergency departments (ED), often leading to behaviors of concern (BOC).
• Healthcare professionals frequently lack confidence and specialized training to manage BOC in this population.
• Existing educational models often fail to incorporate patient and family lived experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance healthcare professionals' skills in identifying, mitigating, and de-escalating BOC in children with IDD within the ED setting.
• To develop and evaluate a simulation-based education (SBE) program co-developed with caregivers.

Main Methods:

• The Motivated for Change program utilized prelearning modules, interactive lectures, and immersive SBE sessions.
• SBE was co-designed with parents, clinicians, and educators to mirror real-world ED challenges.
• Participants practiced communication strategies and reasonable adjustments in a supportive learning environment.

Main Results:

• Eighty-two healthcare professionals participated in 11 SBE sessions.
• Post-session surveys indicated high effectiveness in communication (100%), BOC identification (99%), escalation prevention (99%), and de-escalation (96%).
• 97% reported increased confidence in applying reasonable adjustments.

Conclusions:

• SBE is effective in enhancing healthcare professionals' skills and confidence in managing BOC in children with IDD.
• Key learnings emphasize parent partnership, effective communication, early intervention, and environmental modifications.
• The co-development approach with caregivers is crucial for real-world applicability.