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.

Simulation-based summative assessment in healthcare: an overview of key principles for practice.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare curricula need summative assessments relevant to and representative of clinical situations to best select and train learners. Simulation provides multiple benefits with a growing literature base proving its utility for training in a formative context. Advancing to the next step, "the use of simulation for summative assessment" requires rigorous and evidence-based development because any summative assessment is high stakes for participants, trainers, and programs. The first step of this process is to identify the baseline from which we can start. METHODS: First, using a modified nominal group technique, a task force of 34 panelists defined topics to clarify the why, how, what, when, and who for using simulation-based summative assessment (SBSA). Second, each topic was explored by a group of panelists based on state-of-the-art literature reviews technique with a snowball method to identify further references. Our goal was to identify current knowledge and potential recommendations for future directions. Results were cross-checked among groups and reviewed by an independent expert committee. RESULTS: Seven topics were selected by the task force: "What can be assessed in simulation?", "Assessment tools for SBSA", "Consequences of undergoing the SBSA process", "Scenarios for SBSA", "Debriefing, video, and research for SBSA", "Trainers for SBSA", and "Implementation of SBSA in healthcare". Together, these seven explorations provide an overview of what is known and can be done with relative certainty, and what is unknown and probably needs further investigation. Based on this work, we highlighted the trustworthiness of different summative assessment-related conclusions, the remaining important problems and questions, and their consequences for participants and institutions of how SBSA is conducted. CONCLUSION: Our results identified among the seven topics one area with robust evidence in the literature ("What can be assessed in simulation?"), three areas with evidence that require guidance by expert opinion ("Assessment tools for SBSA", "Scenarios for SBSA", "Implementation of SBSA in healthcare"), and three areas with weak or emerging evidence ("Consequences of undergoing the SBSA process", "Debriefing for SBSA", "Trainers for SBSA"). Using SBSA holds much promise, with increasing demand for this application. Due to the important stakes involved, it must be rigorously conducted and supervised. Guidelines for good practice should be formalized to help with conduct and implementation. We believe this baseline can direct future investigation and the development of guidelines.

Effectiveness of a Multifaceted Informational-Based and Text Message Reminders on Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccinations in Hospital Emergency Departments: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multifaceted procedure in improving pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations 6 months after an emergency department (ED) visit among patients aged 65 years and older. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized, controlled, parallel-group, open-label implementation trial in 18 EDs in France and Monaco. Participants were recruited from November 2015 to September 2016. EDs were randomly assigned with a 1:1 ratio to provide either a multifaceted procedure that combined structured information about pneumococcal and influenza vaccines and three text message reminders sent to patients every two weeks (intervention arm) or nonstructured information only (control arm). The outcomes were self-reported pneumococcal vaccination and influenza vaccination rates within 6 months of enrollment. RESULTS: A total of 9 EDs were randomized to the intervention arm (n = 780 patients) and 9 to the control arm (n = 695 patients). The median age for all enrolled patients was 74 years (25-75th percentiles, 69 to 82): 50.1% were male, 34.9% had at least one underlying condition, and 30.7% were at risk for invasive pneumococcal infection. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the multifaceted intervention did not alter the pneumococcal vaccination rate (6.4% versus 4.6%, absolute difference: 1.8; 95% CI: [-0.9 to 4.4]; p = 0.19), whereas it improved the influenza vaccination rate (52.1% versus 40.0%, absolute difference: 12.1; 95% CI: [2.4 to 21.8]; p = 0.01). At 12 months, mortality did not differ between the intervention (9.7%) and control (11.2%) arms (p = 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted intervention based on text message reminders provides an opportunity to increase anti-influenza vaccination among elderly patients visiting the ED. Efforts are warranted to provide better information on pneumococcal diseases and the benefits of pneumococcal vaccines, especially in the elderly.

Effect of combined individual-collective debriefing of participants in interprofessional simulation courses on crisis resource management: a randomized controlled multicenter trial. / Efecto de un debriefing (reunión informativa) combinado en los participantes en cursos de simulación interprofesional para la gestión de recursos de crisis: un estudio aleatorio, controlado y multicéntrico.

OBJECTIVES: Interprofessional simulation (IPS) training is an effective way to learn crisis resource management. The type of debriefing used in IPS training may affect participants' performance and their level of psychological safety. We aimed to assess and compare performance after standard collective debriefing versus a combination of individual and collective debriefing ("combined" approach). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized, controlled multicenter trial. IPS sessions were randomized to have either standard or combined debriefing. Each team's performance in the IPS session was assessed with the Team Emergency Assessment Measure. The participants assessed the debriefing quality with the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare. RESULTS: Forty IPS sessions were randomized, and 30 were analyzed, 15 using standard collective debriefing and 15 the combined individual-collective method. Teams' performance improved with both types of debriefing, based on pre-post testing (P<.01), and there were no significant differences in overall performance scores between the 2 types of debriefing (P=.64). However, the combined approach was associated with higher scores for leadership skills (P<.05) and psychological safety, and the participants' learning experience was better (P<.05). CONCLUSION: During IPS courses on crisis resource management, debriefing improves participants' performance, but similar overall results can be obtained with both debriefing methods. Combined debriefing might be more effective for improving participants' leadership skills and psychological safety and also provide a better learning experience.

OBJETIVO: La simulación interprofesional (SIP) es eficaz para aprender gestión de recursos de crisis. La modalidad de debriefing utilizada en la SIP puede influir en el rendimiento de los participantes y en su integridad psicológica. Se evalúa y compara el rendimiento de un debriefing estándar (DE) ­colectivo­ con un debriefing combinado (DC) ­individual y colectivo­ en cursos de SIP en escenarios que simulan pacientes con patología aguda y grave. METODO: Ensayo controlado, aleatorizado y multicéntrico. Se aleatorizó el tipo de debriefing realizado (DE o DC) en las sesiones de SIP. El rendimiento del debriefing se evaluó con la escala TEAM (Team Emergency Assessment Measure). La calidad de la SIP fue valorada por los participantes con la escala DASH (Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare©). RESULTADOS: Se aleatorizaron 40 cursos de SIP de los que se analizaron 30. Quince realizaron DE y 15 DC. Ambos grupos mejoraron entre la pre y la posprueba (p < 0,01), pero no hubo diferencias en el rendimiento global entre ambas modalidades de debriefing (p = 0,64). El DC obtuvo mejores resultados que el DE en la capacidad de liderazgo (p < 0,05), en la percepción de seguridad psicológica y en la experiencia de aprendizaje eficaz (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIONES: Durante la SIP en situaciones de crisis, el debriefing mejora el rendimiento de los participantes, sin diferencias entre un DE y un DC. El DC podría ser más efectivo para mejorar la capacidad de liderazgo, la seguridad psicológica y la experiencia del aprendizaje.

Prognostic value of PCT, copeptin, MR-proADM, MR-proANP and CT-proET-1 for severe acute dyspnea in the emergency department: the BIODINER study.

CONTEXT: Acute dyspnea is a frequent complaint in patients attending the emergency department (ED). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of PCT, MR-proANP, MR-proADM, copeptin and CT-proET1 for the risk-stratification of severe acute dyspnea patients presenting to the ED. METHODS: Multicenter prospective study in adult patients with a chief complaint of acute dyspnea. Pro-hormone type biomarkers concentrations were measured on arrival. Combined primary endpoint was a poor outcome. RESULTS: Three hundred and ninety-four patients were included, 137 (35%) met the primary endpoint. MR-proADM was the only biomarker associated with the primary endpoint (odds ratio 1.43 [95%CI: 1.13-1.82], p = 0.003) as were the presence of paradoxical abdominal breathing (odds ratio 2.48 [95%CI: 1.31-4.68]) or cyanosis (odds ratio 3.18 [1.46-6.89]) Conclusions: In patients with severe acute dyspnea in the ED, pro-hormone type biomarkers measurements have a low added value to clinical signs for the prediction of poor outcome.

Plasmatic presepsin (sCD14-ST) concentrations in acute pyelonephritis in adult patients.

INTRODUCTION: Presepsin (sCD14-ST) is an emerging biomarker for infection. We hypothesized that presepsin could specifically increase during acute pyelonephritis and correlate with severity. METHODS: We compared presepsin values in patients with acute pyelonephritis and controls, and we assessed its capacity to predict bacteraemia and admission in patients. RESULTS: In 312 patients with acute pyelonephritis (median age 33years), presepsin concentrations were higher than in controls (476 vs 200ng/L, p<0.001). ROC curve indicated an AUC at 0.90 [for presepsin (vs. 0.99 and 0.98 for CRP and PCT, respectively; p<0.05) and an optimal threshold at 340ng/L (74% sensitivity, 94% specificity). Presepsin concentrations increased in acute pyelonephritis patients with bacteraemia (614 vs. 461ng/L, p,=0.001) and in those requiring admission (614ng/L vs. 320ng/L, p<0.001). Performance of presepsin to predict bacteraemia [AUC=0.63, 95%CI: 0.55-0.72] was similar to CRP (AUC=0.64, p=0.87) and less accurate than PCT (AUC=0.78, p<0.001). AUC for presepsin to detect the need for admission was 0.67, and comparable to CRP (p=0.26) and PCT (p=0.18). CONCLUSION: Presepsin is a valuable biomarker to detect patients with acute pyelonephritis. However, it presents mild performance to predict bacteraemia and the need for admission, and offers no advantage as compared to CRP and PCT.

Clevidipine in acute heart failure: Results of the A Study of Blood Pressure Control in Acute Heart Failure-A Pilot Study (PRONTO).

BACKGROUND: Rapid blood pressure (BP) control improves dyspnea in hypertensive acute heart failure (AHF). Although effective antihypertensives, calcium-channel blockers are poorly studied in AHF. Clevidipine is a rapidly acting, arterial selective intravenous calcium-channel blocker. Our purpose was to determine the efficacy and safety of clevidipine vs standard-of-care intravenous antihypertensive therapy (SOC) in hypertensive AHF. METHODS: This is a randomized, open-label, active control study of clevidipine vs SOC in emergency department patients with AHF having systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg and dyspnea ≥50 on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Coprimary end points were median time to, and percent attaining, a systolic BP within a prespecified target BP range (TBPR) at 30 minutes. Dyspnea reduction was the main secondary end point. RESULTS: Of 104 patients (mean [SD] age 61 [14.9] years, 52% female, 80% African American), 51 received clevidipine and 53 received SOC. Baseline mean (SD) systolic BP and VAS dyspnea were 186.5 (23.4) mm Hg and 64.8 (19.6) mm. More clevidipine patients (71%) reached TBPR than did those receiving SOC (37%; P = .002), and clevidipine was faster to TBPR (P = .0006). At 45 minutes, clevidipine patients had greater mean (SD) VAS dyspnea improvement than did SOC patients (-37 [20.9] vs -28 mm [21.7], P = .02), a difference that remained significant up to 3 hours. Serious adverse events (24% vs 19%) and 30-day mortality (3 vs 2) were similar between clevedipine and SOC, respectively, and there were no deaths during study drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive AHF, clevidipine safely and rapidly reduces BP and improves dyspnea more effectively than SOC.

Twelve months of routine HIV screening in 6 emergency departments in the Paris area: results from the ANRS URDEP study.

OBJECTIVE: In October 2009 the French National Authority for Health recommended that HIV testing be proposed at least once to all persons aged 15 to 70 years in all healthcare settings. We examined whether routine HIV screening with a rapid test in emergency departments (EDs) was feasible without dedicated staff, and whether newly diagnosed persons could be linked to care. METHODS: This one-year study started in December 2009 in 6 EDs in the Paris area, using the INSTI™ test. Eligible individuals were persons 18 to 70 years old who did not present for a vital emergency, for blood or sexual HIV exposure, or for HIV screening. Written informed consent was required. RESULTS: Among 183 957 eligible persons, 11 401 were offered HIV testing (6.2%), of whom 7936 accepted (69.6%) and 7215 (90.9%) were tested (overall screening rate 3.9%); 1857 non eligible persons were also tested. Fifty-five new diagnoses of HIV infection were confirmed by Western blot (0.61% (95% CI 0.46-0.79). There was one false-positive rapid test result. Among the newly diagnosed persons, 48 (87%) were linked to care, of whom 36 were not lost to follow-up at month 6 (75%); median CD4 cell count was 241/mm(3) (IQR: 52-423/mm(3)). CONCLUSIONS: Screening rates were similar to those reported in opt-in studies with no dedicated staff. The rate of new diagnoses was similar to that observed in free anonymous test centres in the Paris area, and well above the prevalence (0.1%) at which testing has been shown to be cost-effective.

Appropriateness of diagnosis and orientation of 996 consecutive patients admitted in an emergency department with flow-based organization.

BACKGROUND: Recent data, focused on the inability to transfer emergency patients to inpatient beds, has shown this to be the single most important factor contributing to overcrowding. Our Emergency Department (ED) was reorganized in the year 2000 based on the optimization of patients' flow. In this model, the emergency team had to refer patients to units fitting best to their condition with minimal delays. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate adequacy of both diagnosis between emergency room and hospitalization wards and patients' orientation in the context of an early discharge from the ED. METHODS: We collected data from 996 consecutive nontrauma patients for whom an admission was decided. Duration of stay in the ED and all related parameters were studied. Patients were categorized according to the adequacy of the diagnosis proposed at ED discharge as compared with the final diagnosis at hospital discharge. The patients' orientation appropriateness was also assessed. RESULTS: Despite a median duration of time of 6 h (21 min-54 h) diagnostics made by the emergency physicians and the patients' orientation were considered as adequate in most of the cases (66 and 96%, respectively). Fast track developed with medical intensive care and cardiology intensive care allowed referral of patients requiring these specific units within 2.2 h (27 min-17 h) and 2 h (41 min-8 h), respectively. The ED length of stay was highly influenced by the admission location and by the patient's age. CONCLUSION: A short time of stay in the ED is compatible with both a good diagnosis and a good orientation of ED patients requiring admission for specialized care.

Health network to improve elderly patients' flow in emergency department.

BACKGROUND: The French population has been growing older these past decades. The French Regional Health Organization System authorizes the creation of health networks in order to improve healthcare. We have developed since 2002 in our Tertiary Hospital Cochin, a health network inside Paris and its suburbs for the elderly to improve their flow from the emergency department. Our study, based on this organization, analyses the outcome of such a system. METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2002, we conducted a monocentric retrospective study from the emergency department including all polypathological elderly patients (older than 75 years) admitted for a medical purpose. We classified them according to triage level at arrival, their duration of stay in the emergency department and in the tertiary hospital/geriatric network and their in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Elderly patients represented 12% of our recruitment of an overall number of 42 700 patients in 2002. Six hundred and ninety-nine (24.2%) patients needed admission in a geriatric field; 42.8% were hospitalized in our tertiary hospital and 57.2% in the geriatric network. The mean age was 86.5+/-6 years in the two groups. The triage scale shows that most elderly people needed rapid care in the emergency department. Our mean duration of stay in the emergency department was 11 h 30 min. No significant difference was observed in the two groups for the in-hospital duration of stay. Mortality rate was 10.2% with a significant difference in the two groups. CONCLUSION: We observed a decreasing number of elderly persons' admission in our tertiary hospital, allowing a specific activity in the referred medical units. Our contract with the geriatric hospital in the network favoured elderly patients' flow from the emergency department. The geriatric network hospitals could refer back any patient to the emergency department for emergent events.