Abstract
Research Question
In the spring of 2020, a large scale simulation-programme was initiated to secure adequate and uniform training for personal enrolled in the Covid-19 Response Program(CRP) at Aarhus University Hospital(AUH), Denmark. Two studies explored how healthcare professionals in the CRP perceived the educational activities and their reactions to involvement(1,2). At that time, how to use personnel protection equipment(PPE) correct and feelings of anxiety and fear, were prominent among healthcare professionals within the CRP(1).
During the last year, many healthcare professionals have faced Covid-19 patients, and the hospital has had time to adapt. Thus we do not know if there is a change in the need for training and the personal reactions. As a result, we conducted a follow-up study to see if time had affected the relevance of the simulation programme.
The research question was two-folded: What are the reactions to the involvement in the CRP, and which educational activities are still needed?
Methods
Three semistructured focus-group interviews were conducted just after the healthcare professionals had participated in two simulated covid-19 scenarios to answer our research questions. Each interview had 3-4 attendees (mixed doctors and nurses) conducted by researchers, all experienced simulation instructors. All interviews were audio-recorded and lasted 20-30 minutes. Hereafter, thematically coded based on a phenomenological approach (3,4). To validate emerging themes, the analyses were performed by two researchers and then compared and discussed.
Results
All participants in this study were new to the CRP at AUH. Some had taken care of Covid-19 patients in other settings but with ad-hoc and non-systematic training.
Results showed that the feelings of fear and anxiety reported in spring 2020 were not present among the participants who had faced the Covid-19 patient previously. On the other hand, the participants who had not yet met the Covid-19 patient stated strong feelings of anxiety and insecurity when faced with the enrolment into the CRP. These feelings affected their attitude toward their pending work in the CRP. Several had volunteered for the programme to relieve their colleagues regardless of the participant's previous experience. All highly valued the chance to train challenging workflows in full PPE within a simulated environment. The correct use of PPE was seen as an essential safety measure and associated with acting socially responsible for oneself, colleagues and patients.
Conclusion
One year after the impact of the covid-19, the feeling of fear, anxiety and chaos are still present among those healthcare professionals who have not yet met the covid-19 patient in their clinical work setting. At the same time, our study shows that despite having dealt with covid-19 for more than a year now, the healthcare professionals still feel a significant need for hands-on simulation to ensure safer and more competent handling of especially something as basic as Personal Protection Equipment(PPE). Based on these results, we claim that time does not necessarily change the insecurity and fear that an individual faces with something new. At the same time, our study shows a continuous need for a well-planned simulation programme and future pandemic responses to benefit from establishing such to ensure safe practice and ease the mental strain among the enrolled healthcare professionals.
In the spring of 2020, a large scale simulation-programme was initiated to secure adequate and uniform training for personal enrolled in the Covid-19 Response Program(CRP) at Aarhus University Hospital(AUH), Denmark. Two studies explored how healthcare professionals in the CRP perceived the educational activities and their reactions to involvement(1,2). At that time, how to use personnel protection equipment(PPE) correct and feelings of anxiety and fear, were prominent among healthcare professionals within the CRP(1).
During the last year, many healthcare professionals have faced Covid-19 patients, and the hospital has had time to adapt. Thus we do not know if there is a change in the need for training and the personal reactions. As a result, we conducted a follow-up study to see if time had affected the relevance of the simulation programme.
The research question was two-folded: What are the reactions to the involvement in the CRP, and which educational activities are still needed?
Methods
Three semistructured focus-group interviews were conducted just after the healthcare professionals had participated in two simulated covid-19 scenarios to answer our research questions. Each interview had 3-4 attendees (mixed doctors and nurses) conducted by researchers, all experienced simulation instructors. All interviews were audio-recorded and lasted 20-30 minutes. Hereafter, thematically coded based on a phenomenological approach (3,4). To validate emerging themes, the analyses were performed by two researchers and then compared and discussed.
Results
All participants in this study were new to the CRP at AUH. Some had taken care of Covid-19 patients in other settings but with ad-hoc and non-systematic training.
Results showed that the feelings of fear and anxiety reported in spring 2020 were not present among the participants who had faced the Covid-19 patient previously. On the other hand, the participants who had not yet met the Covid-19 patient stated strong feelings of anxiety and insecurity when faced with the enrolment into the CRP. These feelings affected their attitude toward their pending work in the CRP. Several had volunteered for the programme to relieve their colleagues regardless of the participant's previous experience. All highly valued the chance to train challenging workflows in full PPE within a simulated environment. The correct use of PPE was seen as an essential safety measure and associated with acting socially responsible for oneself, colleagues and patients.
Conclusion
One year after the impact of the covid-19, the feeling of fear, anxiety and chaos are still present among those healthcare professionals who have not yet met the covid-19 patient in their clinical work setting. At the same time, our study shows that despite having dealt with covid-19 for more than a year now, the healthcare professionals still feel a significant need for hands-on simulation to ensure safer and more competent handling of especially something as basic as Personal Protection Equipment(PPE). Based on these results, we claim that time does not necessarily change the insecurity and fear that an individual faces with something new. At the same time, our study shows a continuous need for a well-planned simulation programme and future pandemic responses to benefit from establishing such to ensure safe practice and ease the mental strain among the enrolled healthcare professionals.
| Translated title of the contribution | Erfaringer fra den fortsatte påvirkning af Covid-19 på et storskalasimulationsprogram |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Publication date | 17 Jan 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jan 2022 |
| Event | Poster presentation at IMSH 2022, Los Angeles, California: IMSH konference 2022 - California, USA, Los Angeles Duration: 18 Jan 2022 → … |
Conference
| Conference | Poster presentation at IMSH 2022, Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Location | California, USA |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Period | 18/01/2022 → … |