Melih Elcin1, Arif Onan, Orhan Odabasi, Melahat Saylam, Handan Ilhan, Pinar Daylan Kockaya, Ilker Gurcuoglu, Yavuz Uckuyu, Duygu Cengiz, Osman Arikan Nacar. 1. From the Department of Medical Education and Informatics (M.E., A.O., O.O.), Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine; Program of First and Emergency Aid (M.S.), Hacettepe University Vocational School of Health Sciences; Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (H.I.), Gulhane Military Medical Academy; and General Directorate of Emergency Health Care (P.D.K., D.C., O.A.N.) and Konya Simulation Training Center (I.G., Y.U.), Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a major global health threat. Prehospital professionals face the risk of infection as they work to save lives. They should be made aware of the disease and be prepared to handle such cases. The aims of our study are to develop a training program about the prehospital management of a MERS case using standardized patient (SP) scenarios, to evaluate the awareness and preparedness of the participants about MERS, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this training. METHODS: We developed 5 scenarios using SPs and an observation form. We included paramedic students and emergency medical service (EMS) providers in our study. They were involved in the simulations. RESULTS: A total of 24 paramedic students and 33 EMS providers participated in our study. Sixteen (84%) of 19 teams recognized the possibility of MERS as a measure of their awareness in the baseline evaluation. The participants lacked donning and doffing personal protective equipments, which revealed their baseline level of preparedness for MERS. Certain improvements in donning and doffing personal protective equipment were observed in the posttraining evaluation. The participants provided positive feedback on the training program. CONCLUSIONS: The training program was appropriate for both paramedic students and EMS providers. A positive educational climate was created. Because the main concerns of this study were awareness and preparedness, which required human interaction, the SP methodology was the optimal simulation modality.
INTRODUCTION:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a major global health threat. Prehospital professionals face the risk of infection as they work to save lives. They should be made aware of the disease and be prepared to handle such cases. The aims of our study are to develop a training program about the prehospital management of a MERS case using standardized patient (SP) scenarios, to evaluate the awareness and preparedness of the participants about MERS, and to evaluate the effectiveness of this training. METHODS: We developed 5 scenarios using SPs and an observation form. We included paramedic students and emergency medical service (EMS) providers in our study. They were involved in the simulations. RESULTS: A total of 24 paramedic students and 33 EMS providers participated in our study. Sixteen (84%) of 19 teams recognized the possibility of MERS as a measure of their awareness in the baseline evaluation. The participants lacked donning and doffing personal protective equipments, which revealed their baseline level of preparedness for MERS. Certain improvements in donning and doffing personal protective equipment were observed in the posttraining evaluation. The participants provided positive feedback on the training program. CONCLUSIONS: The training program was appropriate for both paramedic students and EMS providers. A positive educational climate was created. Because the main concerns of this study were awareness and preparedness, which required human interaction, the SP methodology was the optimal simulation modality.
Authors: Jos H Verbeek; Blair Rajamaki; Sharea Ijaz; Christina Tikka; Jani H Ruotsalainen; Michael B Edmond; Riitta Sauni; F Selcen Kilinc Balci Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-07-01
Authors: Jos H Verbeek; Blair Rajamaki; Sharea Ijaz; Riitta Sauni; Elaine Toomey; Bronagh Blackwood; Christina Tikka; Jani H Ruotsalainen; F Selcen Kilinc Balci Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2020-04-15