Enhancing Clinical Learning Through an Innovative Instructor Application for ECMO Patient Simulators. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alsalemi, Abdullah; Disi, Mohammed Al; Alhomsi, Yahya; Bensaali, Fayçal; Amira, Abbes; Alinier, Guillaume
• Other Names: Sawyer Taylor guest-editor.; Anderson Mindi guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Simulation & gaming. Volume 49:Number 5(2018)
• Page Start: 497
• Page End: 514
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) simulation -- high-fidelity simulation -- instructor application -- medical simulation -- simulation-based learning (SBL) -- simulator control interface; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Simulation methods -- Periodicals; Game theory -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Jeu de rôle -- Périodiques; Éducation; Jeu d'entreprise; Jeu de simulation; Méthode de simulation; Sciences sociales; Théorie des jeux; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/1046878118794984
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1046-8781

Abstract

Background. Simulation-based learning (SBL) employs the synergy between technology and people to immerse learners in highly-realistic situations in order to achieve quality clinical education. Due to the ever-increasing popularity of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) SBL, there is a pressing need for a proper technological infrastructure that enables high-fidelity simulation to better train ECMO specialists to deal with related emergencies. In this article, we tackle the control aspect of the infrastructure by presenting and evaluating aninnovative cloud-based instructor, simulator controller, and simulation operations specialist application that enables real-time remote control of full-scale immersive ECMO simulation experiences for ECMO specialists as well as creating custom simulation scenarios for standardized training of individual healthcare professionals or clinical teams. Aim. This article evaluates theintuitiveness, responsiveness, andconvenience of the ECMO instructor application as a viable ECMO simulator control interface. Method. A questionnaire-based usability study was conducted following institutional ethical approval. Nineteen ECMO practitioners were given a live demonstration of the instructor application in the context of an ECMO simulator demonstration during which they also had the opportunity to interact with it. Participants then filled in a questionnaire to evaluate the ECMO instructor application as per intuitiveness, responsiveness, and convenience. Results. The collected feedback data confirmed that the presented application has an intuitive, responsive, and convenient ECMO simulator control interface. Conclusion. The present study provided evidence signifying that theECMO instructor application is a viable ECMO simulator control interface. Next steps will comprise a pilot study evaluating the educational efficacy of the instructor application in the clinical context with further technical enhancements as per participants' feedback.