Abstract

Context

 

Simulation is becoming a popular method of delivering medical education in paediatrics and many trainees within the Wessex region are developing programmes and courses with simulation at their core. These developments and innovations focus on improving clinical knowledge, optimising healthcare processes and enhancing patient safety, but are often difficult to disseminate and sustain within the region due to the frequent rotation of trainees between hospitals.

 

Description

 

Our trainee-led group - STrIPES (Speciality Trainers Involved in Paediatric Education & Simulation) - was established with the intention of encouraging collaboration, development and dissemination of new simulation and educational initiatives within Wessex. We aim to develop a faculty of trainees and nurses who are trained to develop and deliver high quality education and simulation teaching throughout our region and eliminate the problems associated with trainee rotations between hospitals. We also aim to be a source of information and experience for any trainee or nurse with an interest in developing skills in medical education and simulation so that we can continue to encourage trainee-delivered teaching in the future.

 

Results

 

Our faculty currently consists of 40 paediatricians and nurses with a diverse range of clinical and non-clinical experiences. Our members have been involved in developing simulation programmes for medical students, paediatric trainees, GP trainees, GPs and emergency medicine trainees, and we have delivered teaching throughout many of the hospitals within our region. Feedback from our courses and simulation sessions has been very positive, with particular comment that delivery of teaching by trainees rather than consultants allows for a less threatening and more realistic learning environment. We are keen to be able to collect data from all our projects to correlate the use of co-ordinated deanery-wide education with improved clinician skill and patient outcome.

 

Potential impact

 

As the use of simulation becomes more common as a modality for medical education, it is important to utilise the enthusiasm and skills of clinicians interested in simulation and education to develop and deliver teaching programmes, to ensure the greatest scope of impact and sustainability. We feel that there is great educational potential of STrIPES to improve the quality and safety of patient care within Wessex and we are keen to expand the multi-disciplinary elements of our group to ensure we reach the widest audience possible.