E-learning Proficiency Based Progression Training Programme for Clinical Communication on ISBAR Performance (eISBAR)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Objective: To determine the effectiveness of proficiency based inter-professional communication training in an online environment on medical student's use of the ISBAR (Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication escalation protocol in the deteriorating patient Setting: The study will be conducted in University College Cork, Ireland. Participants: Fifth year medical students, who are scheduled to undertake ISBAR training as part of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) programme. Intervention: Participants will be prospectively randomized to one of three groups for training before undertaking a performance assessment of an ISBAR communication relevant to a deteriorating patient in a low fidelity simulation environment: HSE group (the national e-learning programme only); S group (national e- learning plus access to online scenarios and facilitator when requested) and PBP group (national e-learning plus access to online scenarios training course with in-built proficiency-based progression, and facilitator when requested). Main outcome and measures: A proficiency benchmark on the performance of ISBAR communication in the context of an acutely deteriorating patient.

Detailed Description
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The first successful simulation validation study used a proficiency-based progression methodology. Since then the approach has been successfully deployed to produce superior technical skills but has not yet been validated for non-technical (communication) skills. It has also not yet been validated through the medium of virtual learning. The ISBAR (Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation) has been selected as the standardised tool for clinical communication in relation to an acutely deteriorating patient in many healthcare organisations worldwide, including Ireland. The aim of this study is to explore whether proficiency-based progression (PBP) could be applied to an e-learning training course for ISBAR performance to produce a superior skill set. The study will compare performance outcomes of students who receive the national e-learning programme only with those who receive it in combination with either standard e-learning course with scenarios or proficiency-based progression (PBP) e-learning course with scenarios. Participants will be prospectively randomized to one of three training groups. Following a pre-test observation through low-fidelity simulation, they will then undergo their respective training courses before undertaking a post-test performance assessment of an ISBAR communication relevant to a deteriorating patient in a low fidelity simulation environment: Online learning only (HSE) -the national e-learning programme only Scenarios (S) -national online learning plus online scenario course training Proficiency based progression (PBP) -national online learning plus proficiency-based progression online scenario course training. Main outcome and measures: A proficiency benchmark on the performance of ISBAR communication in the context of an acutely deteriorating patient. All participants will be required to supply baseline demographic information before undertaking the training. Performance metrics have previously been identified, operationally defined and agreed upon at a modified Delphi panel meeting consisting of medical experts for a series of paper-based simulation cases and a standardised high fidelity simulation case used as the assessment case. This case will be used in this study in a low fidelity environment. The proficiency benchmark for each case has been set based on the performance of experienced medical personnel on each case as a series of steps, errors and critical errors. Outcome assessment will be scored by reviewing auditory recordings of ISBAR performance by each participant on the standardised case in the low fidelity simulated environment.

Official Title
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The Effect of an E-learning Proficiency Based Progression Training Programme for Clinical Communication on ISBAR Performance

Conditions
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Communication

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: ePBP: eProficiency Based Progression
* Behavioral: eS: eScenarios
* Behavioral: HSE


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: final year medical students in UCC Exclusion Criteria: lack of consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: National e-learning programme only (HSE)<br>Active Comparator: National e-learning programme only (HSE) National e-learning programme only Recent successful completion of the National e-learning programme by certificate will be displayed. Students then undergo performance assessment via low fidelity simulation and complete a questionnaire. | Behavioral: HSE<br>* National HSE e-learning programme only<br>|
| Active Comparator: eS: eScenarios<br>Recent successful completion of the National e-learning e-learning programme by certificate will be displayed. Students will proceed to an online learning course with 4 scenarios to work through but no requirement to meet a proficiency benchmark. Following training students undergo performance assessment via low fidelity simulation and complete a questionnaire. | Behavioral: eS: eScenarios<br>* National e-learning programme plus access to 4 scenarios in an online learning course and facilitator when requested<br>|
| Experimental: ePBP: eProficiency Based Progression<br>Recent successful completion of the National e-learning programme by certificate will be displayed. Students will proceed to a PBP e-learning course using the same series of cases as S. PBP students will be scored according to predefined metrics and will be required to reach proficiency benchmarks for the cases within the e-learning course to allow progression through the cases. Following training students undergo performance assessment via low fidelity simulation and complete a questionnaire. | Behavioral: ePBP: eProficiency Based Progression<br>* National e-learning programme plus Proficiency-based progression through 4 scenarios in an online learning course and facilitator when requested<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of those reaching the benchmark on the assessment case | Independent review by two blinded assessors of audio recorded ISBAR phone call conducted in the low fidelity simulation setting | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| recording of data in learning management system for various course attempts | recording of data in learning management system for various course attempts | 12 months | 
| Number of completed steps | Number of successfully completed steps as predefined by the metrics for the assessment case | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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proficiency based progression, feedback, computer based assessment, non technical skills, deteriorating patient, ISBAR