Application of telesimulation in a medical undergraduate course during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a quantitative and retrospective study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Because of the social isolation and distancing measures that were imposed to stop the spread of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), new ways of teaching were implemented. OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation of telesimulation and seek to assess students' perceptions regarding telesimulation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective quantitative study conducted within the hospital simulation at a private medical school in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: After telesimulation training, students answered a questionnaire that provided an overall assessment of this activity, self-assessment and assessments of the facilitators and infrastructure provided by the University. RESULTS: Among the students, 50% reported that the activity was below expectations and 45% reported that it was in line with their expectations. The strong points of the activity were the clinical cases, workload and teachers. The main challenge was students' difficulty in reflecting on their learning and the infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS: Since students have less experience and fewer clinical encounters than residents or professionals, they also face more difficulty. Although telesimulation may have provided a valid alternative to replace simulation training during the COVID-19 pandemic, more face-to-face activities should be offered to students, when possible.

Training in healthcare during and after COVID-19: proposal for simulation training

SUMMARY INTRODUCTION: The challenge of facing COVID-19 falls under all health care structures, and without specific training to health care professionals they are probably the professionals with the highest level of exposure. Regardless of the level of health care, the training of professionals aims to optimize resources and attend patients while assuring quality and security. POINT OF VIEW: This report proposes simulation training for health care professionals to update professionals for attending patients during the pandemic. This training was built with five simulated stations, considering different stages of a patient with COVID-19. This report takes advantage of different simulation techniques, such as skills training, standardized patient, medium- and high-fidelity simulator, rapid cycle of deliberate practice, and in situ simulation. DISCUSSION: Medical procedures for COVID-19 patients offer additional risk for health care professionals, especially considering exposure to procedures that generate aerosols, such as compression, mask ventilation, and orotracheal intubation. Thus, finding educational strategies that allow training is essential to simulate the evolution of COVID-19 patients in a safe manner. CONCLUSION: Simulation has proven to be a useful and effective form of training around the world for training health teams on the front lines for patient care in COVID-19.

Clinical simulation strategies for knowledge integration relating to initial critical recognition and management of COVID-19 for use within continuing education and health-related academia in Brazil: a descriptive study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an immense need to develop training on case recognition and management, with a focus on patients' and health professionals' safety at several levels of healthcare settings in Brazil. Different simulation strategies can be included in the diverse clinical care phases for these patients. OBJECTIVE: To suggest a complete simulation-based training program for Brazilian hospitals and/or academic institutions at this moment of the pandemic. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive analysis on possible simulated clinical cases using different methodologies, thereby supporting suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. METHODS: This was a reflective theoretical descriptive study on an educational program based on clinical simulation, with four practical phases at different performance and complexity levels. Wearing, handling and adequately disposing of personal protective equipment, along with specific respiratory procedures in different healthcare settings up to intensive care for seriously infected patients were addressed. RESULTS: This program was designed for application at different Brazilian healthcare levels through different clinical simulation strategies. Summaries of expected performance were suggested in order to standardize technical capacity within these simulation settings, so as to serve these levels. CONCLUSIONS: Developing training programs for situations such as the current COVID-19 pandemic promotes safety not only for patients but also for healthcare workers. In the present context, clear definition of which patients need hospital outpatient or inpatient care will avoid collapse of the Brazilian healthcare system. Institutions that do not have simulated environments can, through the examples described, adopt procedures to promote didactic information in order to help healthcare professionals during this time.

Importância e desafios do treinamento simulado em saúde / Importance and challenges of simulation training in healthcare

O uso da simulação no ensino em saúde amplia as oportunidades de aprendizagem, contribuindo de forma relevante para a prevenção de erros durante a atividade profissional. Entretanto, são vários os desafios para alcançar um treinamento simulado eficiente, incluindo a necessidade de adaptar o conhecimento produzido em diferentes contextos. Como deve ser organizado um centro de simulação? Como levar em conta as peculiaridades dos estudantes na aplicação do conceito de debriefing? Os instrumentos de avaliação foram validados para a população na qual estão sendo aplicados? Quais elementos devem ser incluídos no ensino baseado em simulação para melhorar a aquisição e/ou a retenção de habilidades, conhecimentos e atitudes? Em que momento do currículo introduzir cada possibilidade de treinamento simulado, de modo a tornar o investimento válido? Neste editorial, os autores assinalam a importância do treinamento simulado em saúde e a necessidade de pesquisas que objetivem entender as diferentes situações e fornecer respostas a estas questões.

The use of simulation in health education expands learning opportunities, contributing in a relevant way to the prevention of errors during professional activity. However, there are several challenges to achieving efficient simulated training, including the need to adapt the knowledge produced in different contexts. How should a simulation center be organized? How to take into account the peculiarities of the students in applying the concept of debriefing? Have the evaluation tools been validated for the population in which they are being applied? What elements should be included in simulation-based teaching to improve acquisition and/or retention of skills, knowledge, and attitudes? At what point, in the curriculum, should every possibility of simulated training be introduced in order to make the investment valid? In this editorial, the authors point out the importance of simulation training in healthcare and the need for research aimed at understanding the different situations and providing answers to these questions.