The 2024 French guidelines for scenario design in simulation-based education: manikin-based immersive simulation, simulated participant-based immersive simulation and procedural simulation.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education in healthcare encompasses a wide array of modalities aimed at providing realistic clinical experiences supported by meticulously designed scenarios. The French-speaking Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SoFraSimS) has developed guidelines to assist educators in the design of scenarios for manikin- or simulated participant- based immersive simulation and procedural simulation, the three mainly used modalities. METHODS: After establishing a French-speaking group of experts within the SoFraSimS network, we performed an extensive literature review with theory-informed practices and personal experiences. We used this approach identify the essential criteria for practice-based scenario design within the three simulation modalities. RESULTS: We present three comprehensive templates for creating innovative scenarios and simulation sessions, each tailored to the specific characteristics of a simulation modality. The SoFraSimS templates include five sections distributed between the three modalities. The first section contextualizes the scenario by describing the practicalities of the setting, the instructors and learners, and its connection to the educational program. The second section outlines the learning objectives. The third lists all the elements necessary during the preparation phase, describing the educational method used for procedural simulation (such as demonstration, discovery, mastery learning, and deliberate practice). The fourth section addresses the simulation phase, detailing the behaviors the instructor aims to analyze, the embedded triggers, and the anticipated impact on simulation proceedings (natural feedback). This ensures maximum control over the learning experience. Finally, the fifth section compiles elements for post-simulation modifications to enhance future iterations. CONCLUSION: We trust that these guidelines will prove valuable to educators seeking to implement simulation-based education and contribute to the standardization of scenarios for healthcare students and professionals. This standardization aims to facilitate communication, comparison of practices and collaboration across different learning and healthcare institutions.

'What this article adds'1. The SoFraSimS provides guidelines to facilitate the development of simulation-based activities.2. These guidelines are theory-informed as well as evidence and experience-based.3. A detailed approach to writing a complete activity or scenario for procedural and immersive simulation including manikins or simulated participants is provided (the 'SoFraSimS templates').4. This work aims at standardizing practices and exchanging scenarios between simulation centers.

Première vague de la COVID-19 au Québec : motivation du personnel soignant à traiter des patients infectés.

INTRODUCTION: Retention of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic could become a challenge. It is therefore important to better understand what are the motivational elements that could explain a greater or lesser motivation to care for infected patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate factors modulating HCWs' willingness to treat COVID-19 infected patients. METHODS: HCWs from Québec, Canada, were invited to complete an online survey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between the months of April and July 2020. The survey focused on the intention to avoid treating infected patients, prior experiences in treating COVID-19 patients and anxiety levels. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to assess which factors explained differences in HCWs intention to avoid treating patients. RESULTS: A total of 430 HCW completed the survey. A majority were women (87%) and nurses (50%). Of those, 12% indicated having considered measures to avoid working with COVID-19 infected patients and 5% indicated having taken actions to avoid working with infected patients. A further 18% indicated that they would use a hypothetical opportunity to avoid working with infected patients. Having previously treated infected patients was associated with a significant reduction in the intention to avoid work (OR: 0.56 CI 0.36-0.86). Amongst HCWs, physicians had a significantly reduced intention to avoid treating infected patients (OR: 0.47 CI 0.23-0.94). We also found that an increase in anxiety score was associated with a greater intention to avoid treating COVID-19 infected patients (OR: 1.06 CI 1.04-1.08). CONCLUSION: Study results suggest that previous experience in treating COVID-19 infected patients is protective in terms of work-avoidance intentions. We also found that amongst HCWs, physicians had a significantly lower intention to avoid working with COVID-19 infected patients. Finally, our results show that increase in anxiety is associated with a higher intention to avoid treating infected patients. Characterization of factors associated with low anxiety levels and low reluctance to work during the COVID-19 pandemic could be useful in staffing facilities during the present and future healthcare crisis.

How anxious were Quebec healthcare professionals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? A web-based cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may cause significant anxiety among healthcare professionals (HCPs). COVID-19-related psychological impacts on HCPs in Western countries have received relatively little attention. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the levels of anxiety in HCPs working in the province of Quebec (Canada) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify factors associated with changes in anxiety scores. METHODS: An exploratory online cross-sectional survey was conducted among Quebec HCPs from April to July 2020. The Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure state anxiety among HCPs. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: A total of 426 HCPs completed the survey. Anxiety scores ranged from 20 to 75 points, with 80 being the highest possible value on the STAI scale. Being a female HCP [B = 5.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.49-9.3] and declaring having the intention to avoid caring for patients with COVID-19 (B = 3.75, 95% CI: 1.29-6.22) were associated with increased anxiety scores. Having more years of experience was associated with decreased anxiety scores [B = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.32-(-0.08)]. CONCLUSION: Organizational strategies aimed at preventing and relieving anxiety should target junior female HCPs who express the intention to avoid caring for patients with COVID-19. Seniority could become an important criterion in selecting frontline HCPs during pandemics. Further studies are needed to comprehensively examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian HCPs and identify evidence-based coping strategies.

Simulation of Adult Surgical Cricothyrotomy for Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine Residents: Adapted for COVID-19.

Introduction: In a CICO (cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate) situation, anesthesiologists and acute care physicians must be able to perform an emergency surgical cricothyrotomy (front-of-neck airway procedure). CICOs are high-acuity situations with rare opportunities for safe practice. In COVID-19 airway management guidelines, bougie-assisted surgical cricothyrotomy is the recommended emergency strategy for CICO situations. Methods: We designed a 4-hour procedural simulation workshop on surgical cricothyrotomy to train 16 medical residents. We provided prerequisite readings, a lecture, and a videotaped demonstration. Two clinical scenarios introduced deliberate practice on partial-task neck simulators and fresh human cadavers. We segmented an evidence-based procedure and asked participants to verbalize the five steps of the procedure on multiple occasions. Results: Thirty-two residents who participated in the workshops were surveyed, with a 97% response rate (16 of 16 from anesthesiology, 15 of 16 from emergency medicine). Participants commented positively on the workshop's authenticity, its structure, the quality of the feedback provided, and its perceived impact on improving skills in surgical cricothyrotomy. We analyzed narrative comments related to three domains: preparation for the procedure, performing the procedure, and maintaining the skills. Participants highlighted the importance of performing the procedure many times and mentioned the representativeness of fresh cadavers. Discussion: We developed a surgical cricothyrotomy simulation workshop for anesthesiology and emergency medicine residents. Residents in the two specialities uniformly appreciated its format and content. We identified common pitfalls when executing the procedure and provided practical tips and material to facilitate implementation, in particular to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

A new tool for assessing short debriefings after immersive simulation: validity of the SHORT scale.

BACKGROUND: Simulation is being increasingly used worldwide in healthcare education. However, it is costly both in terms of finances and human resources. As a consequence, several institutions have designed programs offering several short immersive simulation sessions, each followed by short debriefings. Although debriefing is recommended, no tool exists to assess appropriateness of short debriefings after such simulation sessions. We have developed the Simulation in Healthcare retrOaction Rating Tool (SHORT) to assess short debriefings, and provide some validity evidence for its use. METHODS: We designed this scale based on our experience and previously published instruments, and tested it by assessing short debriefings of simulation sessions offered to emergency medicine residents at Laval University (Canada) from 2015 to 2016. Analysis of its reliability and validity was done using Standards for educational and psychological testing. Generalizability theory was used for testing internal structure evidence for validity. RESULTS: Two raters independently assessed 22 filmed short debriefings. Mean debriefing length was 10:35 (min 7:21; max 14:32). Calculated generalizability (reliability) coefficients are φ = 0.80 and φ-λ3 = 0.82. The generalizability coefficient for a single rater assessing three debriefings is φ = 0.84. CONCLUSIONS: The G study shows a high generalizability coefficient (φ ≥ 0.80), which demonstrates a high reliability. The response process evidence for validity provides evidence that no errors were associated with using the instrument. Further studies should be done to demonstrate validity of the English version of the instrument and to validate its use by novice raters trained in the use of the SHORT.

Debriefing for the Transfer of Learning: The Importance of Context.

The advent of simulation-based education has caused a renewed interest in feedback and debriefing. However, little attention has been given to the issue of transfer of learning from the simulation environment to real-life and novel situations. In this article, the authors discuss the importance of context in learning, based on the frameworks of analogical transfer and situated cognition, and the limitations that context imposes on transfer. They suggest debriefing strategies to improve transfer of learning: positioning the lived situation within its family of situations and implementing the metacognitive strategies of contextualizing, decontextualizing, and recontextualizing. In contextualization, the learners' actions, cognitive processes, and frames of reference are discussed within the context of the lived experience, and their mental representation of the situation and context is explored. In decontextualization, the underlying abstract principles are extracted without reference to the situation, and in recontextualization, those principles are adapted and applied to new situations and to the real-life counterpart. This requires that the surface and deep features that characterize the lived situation be previously compared and contrasted with those of the same situation with hypothetical scenarios ("what if"), of new situations within the same family of situations, of the prototype situation, and of real-life situations. These strategies are integrated into a cyclical contextualization, decontextualization, and recontextualization model to enhance debriefing.

Twelve tips for efficient procedural simulation.

Procedural simulation (PS) is increasingly being used worldwide in healthcare for training caregivers in psychomotor competencies. It has been demonstrated to improve learners' confidence and competence in technical procedures, with consequent positive impacts on patient outcomes and safety. Several frameworks can guide healthcare educators in using PS as an educational tool. However, no theory-informed practical framework exists to guide them in including PS in their training programs. We present 12 practical tips for efficient PS training that translates educational concepts from theory to practice, based on the existing literature. In doing this, we aim to help healthcare educators to adequately incorporate and use PS both for optimal learning and for transfer into professional practice.

Intraoperative hypertensive crisis secondary to an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma during orthognathic surgery: a case report.

Increased blood pressure (BP) during orthognathic surgery may result in excessive blood loss, poor surgical field visualization, and longer surgical time and require blood transfusion. When uncontrollable high BP is encountered in an otherwise healthy patient during orthognathic surgery, the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma should be considered. Pheochromocytomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglia (sympathetic ganglia) that secrete catecholamine. They are present in approximately 0.05 to 0.2% of hypertensive patients. Patients can present with hypertension, tachycardia, headaches, and diaphoresis. The clinical presentation may vary and a wide spectrum of nonspecific symptoms may be encountered. The elevated BP can be intermittent (40%) or permanent (60%). About 10% of pheochromocytomas are hereditary and they can be a feature of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. This report describes the case of a 29-year-old patient with a large pheochromocytoma of the right adrenal gland undiagnosed before orthognathic surgery.

Simulation in healthcare: a taxonomy and a conceptual framework for instructional design and media selection.

BACKGROUND: Simulation in healthcare lacks a dedicated framework and supporting taxonomy for instructional design (ID) to assist educators in creating appropriate simulation learning experiences. AIMS: This article aims to fill the identified gap. It provides a conceptual framework for ID of healthcare simulation. METHODS: The work is based on published literature and authors' experience with simulation-based education. RESULTS: The framework for ID itself presents four progressive levels describing the educational intervention. Medium is the mode of delivery of instruction. Simulation modality is the broad description of the simulation experience and includes four modalities (computer-based simulation, simulated patient (SP), simulated clinical immersion, and procedural simulation) in addition to mixed, hybrid simulations. Instructional method describes the techniques used for learning. Presentation describes the detailed characteristics of the intervention. The choice of simulation as a learning medium is based on a matrix of simulation relating acuity (severity) to opportunity (frequency) of events, with a corresponding zone of simulation. An accompanying chart assists in the selection of appropriate media and simulation modalities based on learning outcomes. CONCLUSION: This framework should help educators incorporate simulation in their ID efforts. It also provides a taxonomy to streamline future research and ID efforts in simulation.