Impact of sepsis education for healthcare professionals and students on learning and patient outcomes: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is an important global healthcare problem that is a key challenge faced by healthcare professionals face worldwide. One key effort aimed at reducing the global burden of sepsis is educating healthcare professionals about early identification and management of sepsis.

Aim: To provide a comprehensive evaluation of sepsis education among healthcare professionals and students.

Methods: Six databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus) were searched. We included studies that described and evaluated any form of education or training on sepsis delivered to healthcare professionals and students. Study outcomes were summarized according to the adapted Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation.

Results: Thirty-two studies were included in the review. The learning contents were reported to be in accordance with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines. Seven studies included the topic of interprofessional teamwork and communication in their sepsis education content. Most educational programmes were effective and reported positive effects on immediate knowledge outcomes. Interventions that were delivered through an active learning approach such as simulation and game-based learning generally produced greater gains than didactic teaching. Improvements in patient care processes and patient outcomes were associated with the concomitant existence or implementation of a hospital sepsis care bundle.

Conclusion: Incorporating active learning strategies into sepsis education interventions has the potential to improve learners' long-term outcomes. In addition, sepsis education and a protocol-based sepsis care bundle act in synergy to augment greater improvements in care processes and patient benefits.

Keywords: COVID-19; Care bundle; Interprofessional education; Medical education; Sepsis; Systematic review.