The COVID-19 pandemic elucidated the escalating demand for competent clinical skills programming in managing infectious diseases. A study undertaken at the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, China, from March to December 2022, aimed to study the parameters influencing the outcome of simulation-based training for Chinese healthcare workers. The main focus group of the research was individuals within the age group of 20-40 years, with women possessing university degrees predominantly participating. The study revealed that physicians and nurses had higher chances of successful qualification, indicating the importance of professional experience in these trainings.
Moreover, women regularly qualified over men, and individuals with a higher education level had better qualification rates. Prior experience with protective gear in isolation wards was another crucial determinant of qualification success. In a nutshell, factors such as gender, academic levels, professional background, and prior work experience greatly impacted the training outcomes, thereby suggesting their consideration while designing such training programs.
During recent years, baby boomers in teaching capacities have acknowledged the significance of hands-on, scenario-based learning practices. Therefore, diversifying the methodology of teaching in medical institutions has seen an innovation, introducing simulation-based training that presents real-world patient situations to learners. However, the implementation of this strategy for clinical skills training in infectious diseases remains limited.
Preliminary research shows that programs developed on these lines for Ebola personal protective equipment training proved effective and practical for managing healthcare practitioners’ competence. Also, the results of a Hong Kong study hinted that interdisciplinary simulation training in infection supervision minimized in-hospital transmissions of COVID-19 amid high-stake, time-bound procedures.
The current study was set up at the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, wherein qualified health technicians (including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, etc.) underwent the training. They participated in a specially designed program that imparted essential knowledge and skills, such as using personal protective gear, managing isolation wards, and adhering to hospital infection supervision instructions.
This program employed a blended learning approach that combined online theoretical lessons with practical on-site training sessions. Above all, the effectiveness of the training was gauged through trainees’ adherence to protective equipment procedures, operational norms, and understanding of isolation ward layouts.
The research revealed that 65.7% of the total 1916 participants were female, with women of ages 20-30 years representing 48.8% of the total. Most held university degrees (56%), with females exceeding males (60.2% vs. 47.9%) in this categorization. Addressing professional diversification, physicians (32%) and nurses (49.8%) were the primary categories.
Source: https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-024-05733-3