International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background:

A 2-year Multisector Pharmacist (MSP) Foundation to Advanced programme was devised providing structured supervised learning, progressing to clinically enhanced independent prescribing (CEPIP). MSPs identified the need for additional physical assessment skills (PAS) training to support achieving the CEPIP. A secondary care Trust has an established simulation suite which could be utilised to support CEPIP learners and Health Education England vision that simulation can improve the quality of health and care by providing equity of opportunities for learners and improving patient safety through gaining vital skills [1]. We aimed to design simulation-based scenarios to support MSPs PAS required to complete the CEPIP, measure the relevance of the simulation events held against individual learning needs, identify key learning points from each event through evaluation, and make recommendations for future events

Methods:

MSP trainee representative, Pharmacy Education leads and simulation practitioners working group scoped suitable scenarios designed for MSP. Simulation practitioners delivered the scenarios on two separate events during 2022 with experience pharmacist facilitation support for feedback. The target audience was MSPs and event opened up to pharmacists from other sectors undertaking the CEPIP course to maximise simulation suite use.

Data was collected through a Likert scale learner evaluation form completed immediately after each event, this encompassed relevance for the individuals learning needs, key learning points gained and recommendations for future sessions. Comments were thematically analysed. Ethical approval for the study was not required.

Results:

5 MSPs and 2 CEPIP learners from other sectors attended the PAS sessions.

100 % responses (n=7). All agreed sessions were relevant for individual learning needs and appropriately pitched. The key learning points were: •

Benefits of practising PAS within a safe environment

Structured feedback on PAS by simulation facilitator supported individual development

Future recommendations were for more cases and simulation sessions.

A limitation of the study was that it included a small number of learners however key themes could still be identified.

Conclusion:

Collaboration with the simulation suite and pharmacy has demonstrated the value of simulation to support PAS within a safe and structured environment. Future events to support PAS will be scheduled with the aim for these to become multi-professional and to further develop local networking.

Reference

1. Health Education England. Enhancing education, clinical practice and staff wellbeing. A national vision for the role of simulation and immersive learning technologies in health and care. November 2020. https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/National%20Strategic%20Vision%20of%20Sim%20in%20Health%20and%20Care.pdf [Accessed on 30/06/2022]