Identification of Latent Safety Threats in an Interprofessional Training Involving On-Site Simulation in a Birthing Unit in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

We aimed to detect different types of latent safety threats (LSTs) in the setting of suspected or positive COVID-19 pregnant patients in the Birthing Unit using a training program involving on-site simulations. We hypothesized that providing simulation-based training in the actual care areas would greatly help identify high risk events that could affect staff and patient safety. We conducted a prospective observational study between April 15 and May 06 2020 involving 65 interprofessional health care workers (eg. obstetricians, residents, nurses, midwives) over the course of 8 training sessions. Training scenarios involved presentation of suspected COVID-19 patient to the Birthing Unit, donning & doffing with observer and lastly, transportation of a suspected COVID-19 patient to the operating room for non-urgent cesarean section. LSTs were recorded by two facilitators and further subcategorized into themes; Gaps in Knowledge & Training, Maintenance & Equipment and System & Processes. Areas of improvement and proposed solutions were documented after each simulation and post-simulation surveys were sent to participants. The number of participants involved in on-site simulations was 65. Eighty-one LSTs were observed across all the 3 scenarios amongst any theme: scenario 1 (n = 42, 51.8%), scenario 2 (n = 14, 17.2%) and scenario 3 (n = 25, 30.9%). Amongst the different themes of LSTs, Gaps in Training & Knowledge comprised (n = 29, 35.8%), Maintenance & Equipment comprised (n = 46, 56.8%) and Systems & Processes comprised (n = 6, 7.4%) of total LSTs. There were 80 Areas of Improvement and Proposed Solutions drawn from these recorded LSTs. Fifty participants completed post-simulation surveys. Pre-simulation surveys revealed only 10% of participants felt very prepared to care for a suspected or positive COVID-19 patient in the birthing unit, while 92% responded in the same way post-simulation. Pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 presenting to birthing units pose numerous infection control issues. Simulation-based exercises may greatly help units prepare by identifying LSTs. Post-simulation surveys further allowed us to see the benefits.