PP19 The use of simulation based mastery learning for donning and doffing personal protective equipment: effective training for multidisciplinary health care workers

Background In March 2020, as the SARS-CoV 2 (Covid 19) pandemic escalated, the World Health Organisation recommended the importance of adequate donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers (HCWs) at risk of droplet spread of the virus.1 In the United Kingdom, government bodies developed widely accessible video demonstrations of best practice. However, beyond this, little importance has been placed on effective means of training health care workers in this essential skill. Simulation based mastery learning (SBML) is an effective learning strategy for skills acquisition (2) and could provide the key to effective PPE donning and doffing training for multidisiplinary HCWs. Summary of Work A validated, reliable donning and doffing PPE checklist was developed using guidance from Health Protection Scotland and the local hospital infection control team. Small group SBML sessions were held for 32 HCWs including various grades of nursing, medical and domestic staff. The facilitators created a psychologically safe environment to encourage peer learning and provide effective feedback to improve practice. Pre- and post- session questionnaires were completed in addition to an online follow-up questionnaire several weeks after the session. Summary of Results The pre- and post-SBML session score questionnaires (table 1) showed a trend towards increased confidence in all four knowledge and skill domains, found to be statistically significant to P Of the 11 respondents to the follow up questionnaire, all reported change in practice after the session, most commonly conscious improvements to hand hygiene and doffing techniques were mentioned. All commented on SBML as an enjoyable and effective way to learn best practice. Discussion and Conclusions We have demonstrated the use of SBML to provide HCWs across work sectors with more experiential learning opportunities than observation of instructional videos alone. The combination of psychologically safe and constructive, timely feedback on performance, using a validated checklist, is likely to provide more effective training for a skill that, when performed correctly, improves safety for HCWs and patients alike. Recommendations The delivery of SBML by trained facilitators could improve training in donning and doffing of PPE for HCWs in primary and secondary care settings. References World Health Organisation, Infection prevention and control during health care when COVID-19 is suspected: Interim guidance. 19thMarch 2020. Accessed 25 August 2020 at https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125 Geneva: WHO. McGaghie WC, Harris IB. Learning theory foundations of simulation-based mastery learning. Simul Healthc. 2018;13(3S Suppl 1):S15–S20. doi:10.1097/SIH.0000000000000279