PE RSONAL PROT ECT IVE EQUIPMENT
Keeping staff safe with simulation training
Healthcare workers (HCWs) need to protect themselves first, in order to provide quality, safe care to patients. As a result, there is an urgent need to support the safe donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Dr. Gerard Lacey provides an insight into the role of simulation technologies in ensuring the protection and wellbeing of HCWs.
A 2019 CDC study1 found that 90% of PPE
practices by HCWs were incorrect resulting in an increased risk of infection. Studies of the Ebola outbreak identified that in addition to PPE training, reducing HCW infections requires a multi-disciplinary response that addresses HCW fears, stresses, and the risk of burnout.2 Training in the correct use of PPE, in
particular donning and doffing, is an ongoing issue in healthcare settings. At times of a pandemic, the requirement to roll this training out quickly to all staff, multiplies the complexity of the training challenge. Large numbers of new staff recruited require comprehensive training and new types of PPE introduced from new suppliers requires refresher training specific to that style.
Current approach to PPE training PPE training needs repeated training sessions with real-time feedback to learn and memorise the correct protocol. However, much of the training provided in PPE is in fact “demonstration” with limited opportunity to learn from your own mistakes followed by corrective feedback (so called “errorful learning”3
). Also, repeated training
consumes significant amounts of scarce PPE and requires a large amount of time from Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) staff.
Simulation has been used to provide “errorful learning” in many fields such as aviation, surgery, etc. However, there is currently no validated PPE training system beyond a demonstration-based approach using videos or low fidelity apps. This was the starting point for a joint research project on PPE training between
Donning and doffing of PPE is a very stressful moment for staff. The challenge is to reduce the stress of donning and doffing by providing a system that provides a checklist for practice but also incorporates mindfulness into the donning and doffing process.
AUGUST 2021
SureWash, the Centre for Innovation in Human Systems (CIHS) at Trinity College Dublin and clinical experts from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Tallaght University Hospital, and the Bon Secours Hospital. It is important to note that the project was not limited to technology development. We recognised that there are significant changes to staff working conditions in the recent COVID-19 crisis (i.e. workload, restricted movement, constricted clothing/ mask, social isolation, fatigue, and limited toileting). Donning and doffing of PPE is a very stressful moment for staff. The challenge is to reduce the stress of donning and doffing by providing a system that provides a checklist for practice but also incorporates mindfulness into the donning and doffing process.
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