Evaluation of Simulation Based Education for Primary Care

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Simulation-based education creates an opportunity for Interprofessional, shared experiential learning in a safe environment. The evidence base for its effectiveness in healthcare settings is extensive and it is implemented widely in Hospital Trusts and at undergraduate level. To date its use in primary care settings has been limited. The simulation programme for primary care in Kent and Medway and across Surrey and Sussex, with delivery by a multiprofessional primary care-based faculty to primary care staff, is believed to be unique within the United Kingdom at the current time.

The ongoing training programme being delivered across Kent and Medway has included in situ anaphylaxis training to Primary Care Network (PCN) vaccination hubs, and is now primarily focusing on emergencies which can occur in primary care. It is offered to individual practices and PCNs at Protected Learning Time (PLTs) events, which allow the opportunity for practice and PCN staff to be able to focus on learning as a whole team, with practices closing for the afternoon and cover provided by IC24. GP Training Programme Directors can also access the training for their Half Day Release (HDR) programme for GP Specialist Trainees (GPSTs). The training Is facilitated by the Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Primary Care Simulation Faculty, which is supported by the KSS Primary Care School, and funded in Kent and Medway by the Training Hub. Faculty members all work in primary care across the KSS footprint, with representation from ten different health care professional (HCP) roles. They are trained in simulation methodology and especially in the art of facilitating an effective learner led debrief following a simulation scenario. They receive ongoing training and developmental support and are led by the KSS GP Fellow In Simulation.

The emergencies in primary care simulation programme aims to build knowledge and understanding of how individuals and teams react to an emergency by running a simulation that replicates the clinical setting and context as realistically as possible. This allows equipment and systems to be tested with an anticipated Improvement In patient safety in the event of an actual emergency. The use of actors to portray simulated patients (SPs) allows the patient's voice to be recognized and understood within the debriefs.

This evaluation explored the impact on those participating in the simulation training and on the Faculty who deliver it.