Impact of simulation-based teamwork training on COVID-19 distress in healthcare professionals

• Published in: BMC medical education Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 515
• Main Authors: Beneria, Anna, Arnedo, Mireia, Contreras, Sofia, Pérez-Carrasco, Marco, Garcia-Ruiz, Itziar, Rodríguez-Carballeira, Mónica, Raduà, Joaquim, Rius, Jordi Bañeras
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.12.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Control Groups; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - psychology; COVID19 distress; Data Analysis; Education; Female; Health aspects; Health care teams; Healthcare workers wellbeing; Hospitals; Humans; Inservice Training; Logistic Models; Male; Medical education; Medical personnel; Medical Staff, Hospital - psychology; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mental depression; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental health; Normal distribution; Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology; Pandemics; Patient Care Team; Population; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychological aspects; Psychological Distress; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Simulated patients; Simulation; Simulation and teamwork; Simulation Training; Skills; Stress; Teamwork; Training; Spain; COVID19 distress; Simulation and teamwork; Healthcare workers wellbeing
• ISSN: 1472-6920; 1472-6920
• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-020-02427-4

Non-technical skills such as leadership, communication, or situation awareness should lead to effective teamwork in a crisis. This study aimed to analyse the role of these skills in the emotional response of health professionals to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, 48 doctors and 48 nurses participated in a simulation-based teamwork training program based on teaching non-technical skills through simulation. In May 2020, this group of professionals from a COVID-19 referral hospital was invited to participate in a survey exploring stress, anxiety, and depression, using the PSS-14 (Perceived Stress Scale) and the HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) measures. A control group that did not receive the training was included. We conducted a logistic regression to assess whether having attended a simulation-based teamwork training program modified the probability of presenting psychological distress (PSS-14 > 18 or HADS> 12). A total of 141 healthcare professionals were included, 77 in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. Based on the PSS-14, 70.1% of the intervention group and 75% of the control group (p = 0.342) had symptoms of stress. Having contact with COVID-19 patients [OR 4.16(1.64-10.52)]; having minors in charge [OR 2.75 (1.15-6.53)]; working as a doctor [0.39(0.16-0.95)], and being a woman [OR 2.94(1.09-7.91)] were related with PSS14 symptoms. Based on the HADS, 54.6% of the intervention group and 42.2% of the control group (p = 0.346) had symptoms of anxiety or depression. Having contact with COVID-19 patients [OR 2.17(1.05-4.48)] and having minors in charge [OR 2.14(1.06-4.32)] were related to HADS symptoms. Healthcare professionals who attended COVID-19 patients showed higher levels of anxiety and depression [OR 2.56(1.03-6.36) (p = 0.043)]. Healthcare professionals trained in non-technical skills through simulation tended towards higher levels of anxiety and depression and fewer levels of stress, during the COVID-19 pandemic.