NHS Health Education North West (NHS HENW) Forerunner Fund: Simulated patients - blending performing arts pedagogy and healthcare education.

Description

Development of the Simulated Patient Train The Trainer (SP3T) Programme. (Amount awarded £88,541)

Additional information

This project has developed, piloted and evaluated a bespoke Simulated Patient
Train-The-Trainer (SP3T) programme for Simulation Trainers in the North West of
England.

To achieve the overall aim, this project utilised a sequential exploratory mixed
methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative data for comprehensive
analysis. Firstly, the evidence base was explored to develop a regional
questionnaire-based survey and later develop course resources. A regional survey
was undertaken with 89 responses gained from 89 participants (working within 24
different organisations including 4 HEIs and 20 NHS Trusts and 31 separate
departments). A needs analysis was conducted to establish capacity and demand
(see section 3.1).

The overall aim of improving knowledge, awareness and best practice in relation to incorporating SPs within simulation-based education (SBE) or workforce
development training programmes in the North West of England, UK has been
achieved through a regional survey and four different evaluations of the pilot SP3T
programme. The findings from a review of the evidence and survey were used to
develop the bespoke standardised, evidence-based SP3T programme. The
programme consists of a pre-requisite e-learning course and interactive workshop.

Two pilot courses were delivered in February 2015. The evaluation of the e-learning and workshop components is presented in sections 3.3. The final SP3T programme resources include an e-learning course (Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) layout map, 5 e-learning packages, 2 Moodle books, videos and images, e-learning workbook and SP3T e-learning certificate of completion) and SP3T workshop resources (SP role templates. SP feedback templates, workshop course outline. PowerPoint learning and teaching resources, staff briefs including instructions for practical demonstrations and SP3T workshop certificates of participant attendance and Trainer facilitation) (section 3.2.1 and figure 3). All of the resources have been provided to the North West Simulation Education Network (NWSEN) and are currently housed on their (Moodle) VLE. Two additional e-learning Moodle books were developed following the pilot study feedback relating to access issues on NHS computers.

Eighteen SP trainers have now fully completed the SP3T e-learning and workshop
programme. Feedback from the 18 participants (from 16 different organisations
across the North West of England) and 5 SPs has been incorporated to further
develop the SP3T course resources and SP common framework (section 4.1).
The SP common framework (section 4.1) and associated SP3T programme (section
3.2.1) has been designed to empower simulation trainers to effectively work with
SPs in education and training, and ultimately lead to improvements in patient safety.

The Simulated Patient Common Framework now allows simulation providers and
trainers with a reference point from which to guide their work with SPs. This, in turn, should encourage simulation trainers to maximise the potential of embedding SPs in their practice.

International team: Suzanne Gough (Principal Investigator) Leah Greene, Jodie Gibson, Stuart Roberts, Ralph MacKinnon (MMU), Mark Hellaby NWSEN; Professor Brain Webster, Napier University, Edinburgh; Dr Neil Tuttle Griffith University Brisbane, Australia; Professor Debra Nestel, Monash University, Australia, (Amount awarded £88,541)

Period	Feb 2015 → Dec 2015
Work for	Health Education England, United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	International