International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background:

The Registrar Ready days have been running within the Paediatrics speciality in our Deanery for several years. They are aimed at trainees at ST2-3 who are stepping up to the second on-call rota. It is a simulation-based course which aims to help trainees learn in a constructive and safe environment what being the ‘Paediatric Registrar on-call’ may feel like. The scenarios cover a variety of aspects of the Paediatric on-call including critical thinking and decision-making, dealing with difficult patients, communication, and leadership skills. Each candidate will experience the opportunity to lead a scenario with sufficient time for debriefing and self-reflection with a supportive faculty. The aim of the day is to build self-confidence and ability, whilst allowing the trainees to experience decision-making/team management skills in an encouraging environment. Studies have shown that simulation-based medical education can improve both clinical knowledge, but also increase awareness of the importance of human factors in managing a medical emergency [1]. Studies from other regions have highlighted the importance of continuing education in paediatrics in the form of Registrar Ready days comparing trainee satisfaction pre- and post-COVID-19 [2].

Methods:

Previous Registrar Ready days had been uncoordinated, meaning trainees’ experiences were different depending on where they attended. We wanted to ensure that no matter where the course was delivered, and who the faculty were, the trainees would have an equitable experience. The previous and prospective trainees were surveyed to ensure that we delivered scenarios that were relevant to their level and of topics that were interesting and based on real-life situations. As part of the process, the simulations were re-written with sufficient information, so that the days could be run even without the organisers.

Findings:

Feedback from the 10 ‘registrar-ready’ paediatric trainees and the faculty from the course was excellent. Self-ratings for trainee confidence relating to different situations showed an improvement following the day. Trainees commented on a very supportive atmosphere, useful scenarios, and detailed feedback discussion as being the best aspects of the course.

Conclusion:

Standardising the simulation day has meant that paediatric trainees in our region have an equitable experience when attending the course. The new scenarios are relevant to trainees and have proven to improve their confidence when they must take responsibility for different scenarios. We aim to re-assess confidence once they have stepped-up to being a Registrar to ensure that the learning is still relevant.

References

1. Buazon A, Eneje O, Hare A, Spurr L, Kashyup M, Carby M. The use of a high-fidelity simulation-based course to prepare for the transition to a medical registrar. 2 Future Healthc J. 2017;4(Suppl 2):s31.

2. Wilson G, Lucas SF, Salam H. 1751 Is there still a place for face-to-face simulation courses during the pandemic? A comparison of trainee satisfaction of simulation courses pre- and post-COVID. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2021;106:A477.