Facilitator reflections on online delivery of simulation-based mental health education during COVID-19

Purpose: During COVID-19, Maudsley Simulation successfully pivoted to fully online delivery of simulation-based education (SBE) in mental health. In migrating digitally, the simulation faculty experienced a range of new phenomena and challenges. The authors' experiences may be transferable to other specialities and for other educator groups. By sharing the authors' experiences, this study aims to support others adapt to online SBE. Design/methodology/approach: This piece represents the authors' collective reflections on the challenges of adapting their facilitation skills to the online environment. It also offers various suggestions on how to improve the learner experience in view of these challenges. Findings: Beyond merely platform orientation and operating procedure familiarisation, the team gained insights into ensuring optimal learning, engagement and participant experience during online deliveries. Delivery of online SBE brings several potential barriers to psychological safety and these warrant careful consideration by experienced simulationists. Practical implications: Optimising participant engagement and psychological safety remain key considerations despite this novel medium. Facilitators must be willing to adapt accordingly to begin delivering high-quality online SBE. Originality/value: From their experience, facilitators must reframe their debriefing expectations and adjust how they engage participants and manage group dynamics given the inherently different nature of this new learning environment.

Simulation in the time of COVID 19

With the twin aims of minimising loss of life and not overwhelming healthcare systems, the economies of every country have suffered as our way of living, working, travelling, and doing business changed.2 3 While many ‘routine’ simulation sessions have decreased or even ceased, simulation based education (SBE) which is directly relevant to dealing with the particulars of an infectious agent has greatly increased.4 5 In the authors’ own hospitals, simulation was used to prepare healthcare staff for doffing and donning personal protective equipment (PPE), proning ventilated patients, optimising patient pathways and much more. Physical distancing and PPE requirements mean that training sessions have to be modified in scope, duration and/or setting.4 The number of participants per session is often kept to a minimum, the reliance on additional disposable supplies, including PPE, is not negligible, and new infection control measures with regards to the simulation equipment used are being established and rigorously implemented. The expertise of its members allows and, one might say, compels ASPiH to add to the dialogue around the allocation of resources to SBE, the maintenance of standards, methods of assessment, etc., in view of promoting patient safety and improving the competencies and wellbeing of all social and healthcare staff.