P31 Changes in knowledge around the diagnosis of brain death following attendance at the national deceased donation simulation course for intensive care medicine trainees. (5th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ivory, Ben; Gardiner, D; Beale, S
• Is Part Of: BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning. Volume 3(2017)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A56
• Page End: A56
• Publication Date: 2017-11-05
• Subjects: Medicine -- Simulation methods -- Periodicals; Medical innovations -- Periodicals; 610.113
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjstel-2017-aspihconf.115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2056-6697

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The Deceased Donation Simulation Course for Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Trainees is a national course aimed at senior ICM trainees. Over two days, participants are taught using a combination of lectures, small group work and simulation sessions in all the aspects of best practice of deceased organ donation. This includes mannequin based simulation and small group sessions on the safe diagnosis of brain death. All participants are asked to complete in depth pre and post-course questionnaires to evaluate knowledge and attitudes and to seek their opinions on the course itself. This is completed a number of days after the completion of the course. We used a section of this questionnaire to ascertain whether course attendance was associated with improvement in knowledge around the diagnosis of brain death. Methodology: The pre and post-course questionnaire included 5 questions directly related to the diagnosis of brain death. We analysed the proportion of each question answered correctly in the pre and post course questionnaires using a chi squared test to determine whether there was a significant difference between the groups. Results 36 pre-course questionnaires and 47 post-course questionnaires were analysed. All five questions showed significantly higher proportions of correct answers in the post course group (Table 1). Conclusions/Discussion: Our results suggest a significant change in the knowledge surrounding the diagnosis of brain death after attending our course. Whilst our data are not completely matched (more participants completed the post course questionnaire than the pre course questionnaire), the results are still highly suggestive that the course has succeeded in its aim of improving knowledge in this area of practice.