First use of Simulation in Therapeutic Patient Education (S-TPE) in adults with diabetes: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To pilot test the feasibility and acceptability of Simulation in Therapeutic Patient Education (S-TPE), in both adult patients with diabetes and educators. CONCEPTION: Adult patients with insulin-dependent diabetes and who participated in a full TPE programme for the implementation of a FreeStyle were included in this monocentric pilot study. S-TPE intervention was based on a consensus conference determining the conditions and objectives of S-TPE. Main outcomes were the patients' and educators' perception of the usefulness of S-TPE and the patient's satisfaction level at the conclusion of the simulation sequence, measured on validated scales. Secondary outcomes were organisational, human, material and temporal, facilitating and limiting factors for patients and educators, patient self-efficacy and anxiety scores. INTERVENTIONS: The final session of TPE used the simulation. For each group, one patient volunteered to be the simulated patient. Intervention was divided into three steps: (1) a pre-briefing, (2) a simulation of hypoglycaemia and (3) a debriefing with the group of patients and educators. The whole intervention lasted about 2 hours. RESULTS: We included 23 patients (mean age ±SD 63±15 years, 14 men) and 3 educators. After S-TPE intervention, patients' and educators' perceived usefulness score were 20.6/25 and 37.5/40, respectively. Patient's satisfaction score was 51.9/60. Qualitative analysis revealed no limiting factors to implementing S-TPE. Self-efficacy was stable. Decrease in anxiety score after S-TPE reached statistical significance in women (from 35.1±4.5 to 32.7±5.5, p=0.04) but not in men. CONCLUSION: No limiting factors that could prevent the conduct of clinical trials to assess S-TPE efficacy in patients with diabetes were identified. S-TPE appears as a promising technique to improve diabetes management. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Registration N°: 2019-A00773-54 and NTC: 03956927.

Consensus Recommendations for the Use of Simulation in Therapeutic Patient Education.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation is rarely used to help individuals with chronic diseases develop skills. The aim of the study was to provide recommendations for the use of simulation in therapeutic patient education (S-TPE). METHODS: Expert consensus was achieved with the participation of the following 3 groups of experts: (a) expert patients and caregivers; (b) health professionals specialized in therapeutic patient education (TPE); and (c) simulation experts. Each expert received a list of questions by e-mail in 3 iterations. The synthesis of the 2 first questionnaires resulted in 34 first recommendations voted during the consensus conference meeting. Each recommendation was subject to an extensive literature review. The quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations were assessed through the evaluation, development, and evaluation criteria categories (GRADE criteria). The third questionnaire selected and illustrated recommendations more specific to the use of S-TPE. RESULTS: At the end of the process, the experts identified 26 recommendations specific to the use of S-TPE. They proposed examples of skills in different diseases and stressed the importance of adapting the conditions of use (location, equipment, time of the care) to the circumstances of the patient learner and skills to be developed. Experts should exercise great caution as this technique presents ethical considerations related to patient care. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations underline the fact that simulation could bring added value to TPE. They provide a framework and examples for the experimental use of simulation in TPE. Research into feasibility and acceptability is needed.