Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung YWN (1) (2), Tsoi SC (2) (3), Chan MY (2) (4)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Intensive Care, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (2)Nethersole Clinical Simulation Training Centre, Pamela Youde Eastern Nethersole (3)Nursing Services Department, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (4)Department of Accident and Emergency Care, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
COVID-19 is caused by a highly contagious virus SARS-CoV which is mainly spread through droplets and contact transmission. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are particularly at risk for nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 due to the close and continuous exposure of patients. In fighting COVID-19 pandemic, training for frontline healthcare is essential in order to increase the competency and confidence, as well as providing a better understanding of infection risk to protect them from infection.
Objectives :
Simulation training specific for anticipated COVID-19 clinical emergencies were organized for HCWs who were working or would be deployed to isolation ward. The impact of training on their understanding of disease, confidence level in managing the infected patients were evaluated.
Methodology :
A comprehensive 3-in-1 training course focusing on the clinical safety of healthcare workers towards infection, teamwork approach in managing COVID-19 patients and airway management was designed by NCSTC team. 3-in-1 training including: 1.Updated global COVID-19 information, concept of self and environmental contamination and common pitfalls. 2.Simulation scenarios consisted for 2 highly-fidelity immersive scenarios focusing on the management of respiratory failure for potential COVID-19 infected patient in a medical ward. Colourless UV fluorescent dye, which mimics oro-pharyngeal secretion, was adopted to illustrate the environmental contamination of a COVID-19 patient. 3.Skill station was followed, with practice of the airway management covered two major elements, 2-hand sealing bagging technique and the application of supraglottic airway, according to the updated ACLS Cardiac Arrest Algorithm for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. Pre and post evaluations about understanding of infection risk and control, Crew Resource Management (CRM), self-contamination, and protection strategies and self-perceived emergency and contingency preparedness towards COVID-19 were measured using a questionnaire survey on a 6-point Likert Scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree”.
Result & Outcome :
Results: 25 classes were organized from March to September 2020 in NCSTC. 241 participants completed the pre and post-intervention questionnaire. There was a statistical significant increase in understanding of infection risk and control (p-value < 0.001), CRM (p-value < 0.001), self-contamination and protection strategies (p-value < 0.001), and self-perceived emergency and contingency preparedness to COVID-19 (p-value < 0.001) upon completion of the workshop. Conclusion: This training course had a positive impact of HCWs in increasing their understanding of infection control and confidence level in preparedness of COVID-19 pandemic. A significant increase in knowledge and competency in managing COVIID-19 patients were reported after completing the training workshop. Similar training should be offered for healthcare workers who will take care of COVID-19 infected patients.
