1. Simulation-based training and assessment of mobile pre-hospital SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic teams in Styria, Austria
- Author
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Jürgen Prattes, Lukas P. Mileder, Thomas Wegscheider, and Gerhilde Schüttengruber
- Subjects
Male ,Objective structured clinical examination ,polymerase chain reaction ,Health Personnel ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,Ambulances ,Pneumonia, Viral ,education ,MEDLINE ,Observational Study ,Specimen Handling ,coronavirus disease 2019 ,Betacoronavirus ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pandemic ,diagnostics ,medicine ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Pandemics ,Personal Protective Equipment ,Simulation Training ,Personal protective equipment ,Curriculum ,SARS-CoV-2 ,business.industry ,Gold standard ,COVID-19 ,General Medicine ,simulation ,medicine.disease ,Body Fluids ,Austria ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,ComputingMethodologies_DOCUMENTANDTEXTPROCESSING ,Female ,Observational study ,Medical emergency ,Coronavirus Infections ,business ,Research Article ,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 - Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, The World Health Organization has declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. Polymerase chain reaction testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the diagnostic gold standard of COVID-19. We have developed a simulation-based training program for mobile prehospital diagnostic teams in the province of Styria, Austria, and performed a prospective observational study on its applicability and effectivity. The 1-day curriculum uses theoretical instruction, technical skills training, and simulator-based algorithm training to teach and train prehospital patient identification and communication, donning the personal protective equipment, collection of naso-/oropharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing, doffing the personal protective equipment, and sample logistics. Trainings were conducted at the SIM CAMPUS simulation hospital, Eisenerz, using high-fidelity patient simulation. To ensure achievement of predefined learning outcomes, participants had to undergo a final simulator-based objective structured clinical examination. In March 2020, 45 emergency medical assistants and 1 physician of the Austrian Red Cross participated on a voluntary basis. Forty-five of the 46 participants (97.8%) completed the curriculum successfully, with mean objective structured clinical examination ratings of 98.6%. Using several proven educational concepts, we have successfully drafted and implemented a training program for mobile prehospital SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic teams. Based on simulation-based objective structured examinations, it has prepared participants effectively for preclinical duties.
- Published
- 2020