Medical emergency training for doctors and nurses in psychiatry: A quality improvement study

• Published in: Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Vol. 30; no. 6; p. 759
• Main Authors: Sharma, Divya Kiran, Dham, Pallavi, McDermott, Brett
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Clinical Competence; Emergencies; Humans; Psychiatric Nursing; Psychiatry; Quality Improvement; Simulation Training; physiological deterioration; simulation training; medical emergencies; quality improvement
• ISSN: 1440-1665
• DOI: 10.1177/10398562221121213

We evaluated the impact of medical emergency simulation training on self-reported attitudes, confidence level and knowledge amongst psychiatric doctors and mental health nurses. Before and following Essential Life Support (ELS) simulation training for medical emergencies, pre and post-questionnaires were employed. Paired t-tests were used to analyse change in self-reported attitudes, confidence in self and the team, and theoretical knowledge. In 37 participants we found significant improvement in doctors and nurses attitudes (t = 2.168 < .05 and 2.651 < .05) and doctor's confidence t = 3.711 < .001) following training. Knowledge increased for all participants and was significant for doctors (t = 2.112, < .041). Comments supported training. Many doctors and nurses in mental health feel inadequately prepared and lack confidence in themselves and their colleagues to respond to medical emergencies. A structured simulation course was useful to change attitudes and increase confidence and knowledge which could benefit the team and patients.