The impact of small-group virtual patient simulator training on perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration: a multicentre cohort study of nursing and medical students.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated rapid changes in medical education to protect students and patients from the risk of infection. Virtual Patient Simulators (VPS) provide a simulated clinical environment in which students can interview and examine a patient, order tests and exams, prioritize interventions, and observe response to therapy, all with minimal risk to themselves and their patients. Like high-fidelity simulators (HFS), VPS are a tool to improve curricular integration. Unlike HFS, VPS require limited infrastructure investment and can be used in low-resource settings. Few studies have examined the impact of VPS training on clinical education. This international, multicenter cohort study was designed to assess the impact of small-group VPS training on individual learning process and curricular integration from the perspective of nursing and medical students. METHODS: We conducted a multi-centre, international cohort study of nursing and medical students. Baseline perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration were assessed using a 27-item pre-session questionnaire. Students subsequently participated in small-group VPS training sessions lead by a clinical tutor and then completed a 32-item post-session questionnaire, including 25 paired items. Pre- and post-session responses were compared to determine the impact of the small-group VPS experience. RESULTS: Participants included 617 nursing and medical students from 11 institutions in 8 countries. At baseline, nursing students reported greater curricular integration and more clinical and simulation experience than did medical students. After exposure to small-group VPS training, participants reported significant improvements in 5/6 items relating to individual learning process and 7/7 items relating to curricular integration. The impact of the VPS experience was similar amongst nursing and medical students. CONCLUSIONS: In this multi-centre study, perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration improved after exposure to small-group VPS training. Nursing and medical students showed similar impact. Small-group VPS training is an accessible, low-risk educational strategy that can improve student perceptions of individual learning process and curricular integration.

Profile of transversal skills of Nursing students to intervene in disaster situations.

OBJECTIVE: to identify the profile of transversal teaching/learning skills, which allows an adequate intervention of disaster nursing students. METHODS: this is research framed in the qualitative, transversal paradigm methodology, supported by inductive and exploratory reasoning. RESULTS: it was found that there is no consensus between Nursing Education Major Coordinators/Directors and disaster nursing experts regarding transversal skills considered decisive, due to the current absence of the theme in study plans and the limited personal and professional training of professors. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: the development and implementation of teaching/learning strategies that allow the development of transversal skills, favoring students' ability to meet this reality in a conscious, balanced and efficient way, is crucial.

Epidemiology of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae among healthcare students, at the Portuguese Red Cross Health School of Lisbon, Portugal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the prevalence of intestinal carriage by extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae among Portuguese students attending a Bachelors' course in healthcare, and to determine the molecular features of ESBL-producing isolates. METHODS: One-hundred and eleven faecal samples recovered from Portuguese healthcare students were screened for either ESBL-producing, carbapenem-resistant, colistin-resistant or pan-aminoglycoside-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, using respective screening media. All recovered isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and characterised by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). RESULTS: A total of 17 ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (16 Escherichia coli and a single Klebsiella pneumoniae) were recovered from 16 students, representing a prevalence of 14.5%. The E. coli isolates were distributed into three sequence types (STs) and seven PFGE types. The most common ESBL identified was CTX-M-1 (n=13; 76%), followed by CTX-M-15 (n=3; 18%) and CTX-M-8 (n=1; 6%). The majority of the strains were resistant to sulfonamides (88%) and fosfomycin (71%). Resistance to aminoglycosides was observed at a low rate, that is 12% for both tobramycin and kanamycin. No colistin-, carbapenem- or pan-aminoglycoside-resistant isolates were recovered. A major clone, ST10-blaCTX-M-1, included 12 E. coli isolates. The blaCTX-M-1 gene was always located on an IncFIA/FIB plasmid type, co-harbouring genes encoding resistance to tetracycline, sulfonamides, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and fosfomycin. CONCLUSION: The most commonly identified ESBL gene in E. coli was blaCTX-M-1, usually identified among ESBL-producing isolates recovered from animals. A high prevalence of faecal carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli was found among healthy healthcare students, underlying this population as an important reservoir.

A satisfação dos estudantes de enfermagem com as práticas clínicas simuladas / Nursing students' satisfaction with simulated clinical experiences / Satisfacción de los estudiantes de enfermería con las prácticas clínicas simuladas

Resumo Enquadramento: As práticas clínicas simuladas, designadas por experiências clínicas simuladas ou simulação, são um processo formativo dinâmico e desafiador que decorre em ambiente controlado com recurso a cenários que recriam a realidade clínica. Objetivo: Estudar a satisfação dos estudantes de enfermagem com as práticas clínicas simuladas. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo-correlacional de abordagem quantitativa, com uma amostra de 223 estudantes de enfermagem. Aplicada a Escala de Satisfação com as Experiências Clínicas Simuladas (ESECS), constituída pelas dimensões: prática, cognitiva e realismo. Resultados: A satisfação média global com as práticas clínicas simuladas, foi de 7,501 na escala de 1-10. As características sociodemográficas, ano curricular e conteúdos, não foram preditivos da satisfação. Os estudantes apresentam-se em média mais satisfeitos na dimensão cognitiva e menos satisfeitos na dimensão realismo. Conclusão: Os estudantes apresentam-se satisfeitos com as práticas clínicas simuladas percecionando a sua importância para a aprendizagem, na aquisição de competências e maior capacidade de resposta no ensino clínico em contexto real. Tal reforça a pertinência do investimento, teórico, científico e prático, nesta estratégia de ensino.

Abstract Background: Simulated clinical experiences, also known as simulated clinical practices or simulation, are dynamic and challenging training activities that occur in a controlled environment using scenarios that recreate real-life clinical practice. Objective: To examine nursing students' satisfaction with simulated clinical experiences. Methodology: This quantitative descriptive-correlational study was conducted with 223 nursing students, using the Escala de Satisfação com as Experiências Clínicas Simuladas (ESECS; Satisfaction with Simulated Clinical Experiences Scale), which includes the Practical, Cognitive, and Realism dimensions. Results: The total mean of global satisfaction with the simulated clinical experiences was 7.501 on a scale of 1 to 10. The socio-demographic characteristics and course year and contents were not predictors of satisfaction. On average, students were more satisfied with the Cognitive dimension and less satisfied with the Realism dimension. Conclusion: Students are satisfied with simulated clinical experiences and understand their importance for acquiring skills and improving their ability to respond during clinical teachings in real-life contexts. For this reason, the theoretical, scientific, and practical investment in this teaching strategy is highly relevant.

Resumen Marco contextual: Las prácticas clínicas simuladas, denominadas experiencias clínicas simuladas o simulación, son un proceso de formación dinámico y desafiante que tiene lugar en un entorno controlado y que utiliza escenarios que recrean la realidad clínica. Objetivo: Estudiar la satisfacción de los estudiantes de enfermería con las prácticas clínicas simuladas. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo-correlacional con enfoque cuantitativo, con una muestra de 223 estudiantes de enfermería. Se aplicó la Escala de Satisfacción con las Experiencias Clínicas Simuladas (ESECS), que consta de las siguientes dimensiones: práctica, cognitiva y realismo. Resultados: La satisfacción global media con las prácticas clínicas simuladas fue de 7,501 en una escala del 1 al 10. Las características sociodemográficas, el año de estudio y los contenidos no predijeron la satisfacción. De media, los estudiantes se mostraron más satisfechos en la dimensión cognitiva y menos satisfechos en la dimensión realismo. Conclusión: Los estudiantes se muestran satisfechos con las prácticas clínicas simuladas y son conscientes de su importancia para el aprendizaje, la adquisición de habilidades y una mayor capacidad de respuesta en la enseñanza clínica en un contexto real. Esto refuerza la pertinencia de la inversión teórica, científica y práctica en esta estrategia pedagógica.

Profile of transversal skills of Nursing students to intervene in disaster situations / Perfil de competencias transversales de estudiantes de Enfermería para intervenir en situaciones de desastre / Perfil de competências transversais dos estudantes de Enfermagem para intervir em situações de catástrofe

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify the profile of transversal teaching/learning skills, which allows an adequate intervention of disaster nursing students. Methods: this is research framed in the qualitative, transversal paradigm methodology, supported by inductive and exploratory reasoning. Results: it was found that there is no consensus between Nursing Education Major Coordinators/Directors and disaster nursing experts regarding transversal skills considered decisive, due to the current absence of the theme in study plans and the limited personal and professional training of professors. Final considerations: the development and implementation of teaching/learning strategies that allow the development of transversal skills, favoring students' ability to meet this reality in a conscious, balanced and efficient way, is crucial.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar el perfil de competencias transversales de enseñanza/aprendizaje, que permita una adecuada intervención del estudiante de la Licenciatura en Enfermería en el dominio de la catástrofe. Resultados: se constató que no existe consenso entre los Coordinadores/Directores de la Licenciatura en Enfermería y los expertos en enfermería de catástrofes respecto a las competencias transversales consideradas cruciales. Métodos: investigación enmarcada en la metodología del paradigma cualitativo, transversal, sustentada en razonamientos inductivos y exploratorios. Consideraciones finales: es crucial el desarrollo e implementación de estrategias de enseñanza/aprendizaje que permitan el desarrollo de competencias transversales, favoreciendo la capacidad del estudiante para afrontar esta realidad de manera consciente, equilibrada y eficiente.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar o perfil de competências transversais de ensino/aprendizagem, que permita uma intervenção adequada do estudante do Curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem no domínio da catástrofe. Métodos: investigação enquadrada na metodologia do paradigma qualitativo, transversal, apoiada no raciocínio indutivo e exploratória. Resultados: verificou-se que não existe consenso entre os Coordenadores/Diretores dos Cursos de Licenciatura em Enfermagem e os peritos de enfermagem em catástrofe quanto às competências transversais consideradas determinantes, decorrente da atual ausência da temática nos planos de estudo e da diminuta formação pessoal e profissional dos docentes. Considerações finais: o desenvolvimento e implementação de estratégias de ensino/aprendizagem, que permitam o desenvolvimento de competências transversais, favorecendo a capacidade do estudante para se encontrar com esta realidade de maneira consciente, equilibrada e eficiente, assume-se crucial.