Fourty subjects were randomly allocated into two large groups, the High Fidelity Simulator group and the Low Fidelity Simulator group. Each group was divided into small groups, consist of 2 doctors and 3 nurses. All subjects underwent the same interactive lectures, and two sessions of in-situ simulation according to their assign group. In-situ simulation and debriefing were performed by implementing appropriate personal protective equipment and social distancing. At the end of each simulation session, each group would underwent a debriefing session, which was performed by an experience instructor. The first simulation was aimed to teach participants skills and steps in transporting critically-ill COVID-19 patients according to the hospital check-list. While the second simulation was aimed to assess skills, team work and communication that participants had learned from the previous simulation, by using assessment tools that had been developed before. In addition to comparing each point in the assessment tool between the two groups, the points that had been earned were also added up to get the overall points for total skills, cooperation and communication score. At the end of the session, learner immediate feedback were also collected using an online feedback form, which provided accountability for attendance, content learning, and course evaluation feedback.
This study aimed to determine the role of in situ simulation training during a pandemic by using standard and high-fidelity mannequins to improve interprofessional communication, skills, and teamwork in transferring critically ill COVID-19 patients.