Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep;9(3):100476.
doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2020.100476. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Investigating effects of healthcare simulation on personal strengths and organizational impacts for healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Victor Kai-Lam Cheung  1   2 , Eric Hang-Kwong So  1 , George Wing-Yiu Ng  1 , Sze-Sze So  1 , Jeff Leung-Kit Hung  1 , Nam-Hung Chia  1
Affiliations

Investigating effects of healthcare simulation on personal strengths and organizational impacts for healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Victor Kai-Lam Cheung et al. Integr Med Res. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: This cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating impacts of healthcare simulation training, either in-situ or lab-based, on personal strengths of healthcare workers (HCWs) and organizational outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: COVID-19 Taskforce was established to formulate standardized scenario-based simulation training materials in late-January 2020. Post-training questionnaires made up of 5-point Likert scales were distributed to all participants to evaluate their personal strengths, in terms of i) assertiveness, ii) mental preparedness, iii) self-efficacy, iv) internal locus of control, and v) internal locus of responsibility. Independent sample t-tests were used to analyze between-group difference in "In-situ" and "Lab-based" group; and one-sample t-tests were used to compare change in personal strengths with reference point of 3 (Neutral). Kirkpatrick's Model served as the analytical framework for overall training effects.

Results: Between 05 February and 18 March 2020, 101 sessions of simulation training were conducted in "In-Situ" at either Accident & Emergency Department (20, 20%) or Intensive Care Unit (15, 14%) and "Lab-based" for Isolation (30, 30%) and General Wards (36, 36%). 1,415 hospital staff members, including 1,167 nurses (82%), 163 doctors (12%) and 85 patient care assistants (6%), were trained. All domains of personal strengths were scored 4.24 or above and statistically significantly increased when comparing with reference population (p < .001). However, no significant differences between in-situ and lab-based simulation were found (p > .05), for all domains of personal strengths.

Conclusion: Healthcare simulation training enhanced healthcare workers' personal strengths critical to operational and clinical outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Healthcare Worker; In-Situ; Personal Strengths; Simulation Training.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Kirkpatrick’s Model of Evaluation on Impacts of COVID-19 Simulation Training Course.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organization (WHO) 2003. Summary of probable SARS cases with onset of illness from 1 November 2002 to 31 July 2003.https://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/ [Cited 20 Mar 2020.]. Available from:
    1. Leung G.M., Ho L.M., Lam T.H., Hedley A.J. Epidemiology of SARS in the 2003 Hong Kong epidemic. Hong Kong Med J. 2009;15(Suppl.9):S12–S16. - PubMed
    1. Lai J., Ma S., Wang Y. Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3) - PMC - PubMed
    1. SARS Expert Committee. Chronology of the SARS Epidemic in Hong Kong; 2004 [Cited 01 Mar 2020]. Available from: https://www.sars-expertcom.gov.hk/english/reports/reports/files/e_app3.pdf.
    1. Dieckmann P., Torgeirsen K., Qvindesland S.A., Thomas L., Bushell V., Langli Ersdal H. The use of simulation to prepare and improve responses to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19: Practical tips and resources from Norway, Denmark, and the UK. Adv Simul (Lond) 2020;5:3. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources