Abstract
Mobile emergency simulation offers innovative continuing medical educational support to regions that may lack access to such opportunities. Furthermore, satisfaction is a critical element for active learning. Together, the authors evaluated Canadian rural healthcare providers' satisfaction from high fidelity emergency simulation training using a modified motorhome as a mobile education unit (MEU). Over a 5-month period, data was collected during 14 educational sessions in nine different southern Manitoban communities. Groups of up to five rural healthcare providers managed emergency simulation cases including polytrauma, severe sepsis, and inferior myocardial infarction with right ventricular involvement, followed by a debrief. Participants anonymously completed a feedback form that contained 11 questions on a five-point Likert scale and six short-answer questions. Data from 131 respondents were analyzed, for a response rate of 75.6%. Respondents included nurses (27.5%), medical residents (26.7%), medical first responders (16.0%), and physicians (12.2%). The median response was 5 for overall quality of learning, development of clinical reasoning skills and decision-making ability, recognition of patient deterioration, and self-reflection. The post-simulation debrief median response was also 5 for summarizing important issues, constructive criticism, and feedback to learn. Respondents also reported that the MEU provided a believable working environment (87.0%, n=114), they had limited or no previous access to high fidelity mannequins (82.7%, n=107), and they had no specific training in crisis resource management or were unfamiliar with the term (92%, n=118). A high level of satisfaction was reported in rural health providers with mobile emergency simulation. Access to and experience with high fidelity mannequins was limited, suggesting areas for potential educational growth.
Highlights
Mobile emergency simulation offers innovative continuing medical educational support to regions that may lack access to such opportunities
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS) mobile education unit (MEU) (Fig1) is a motorhome that has been converted to a medical simulation lab
Respondents reported that the overall quality of learning was excellent, and that the simulation developed clinical reasoning skills and decision-making ability, helped in recognizing patient deterioration quickly, and allowed for self-reflection
Summary
Mobile emergency simulation offers innovative continuing medical educational support to regions that may lack access to such opportunities. The authors evaluated Canadian rural healthcare providers’ satisfaction from high fidelity emergency simulation training using a modified motorhome as a mobile education unit (MEU). The post-simulation debrief median response was 5 for summarizing important issues, constructive criticism, and feedback to learn. Physicians in rural hospitals may not have formal emergency training[7], and nurses in remote or isolated communities may not have the necessary training or supports available for critically ill patients[8]. Patients presenting to rural departments are still triaged in urgent categories, and they represent a very wide breadth of emergent presentations[12] Some of these presentations may be different than those in urban contexts[13], suggesting subtleties unique to urban contexts that need to be appreciated
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
