Dr John ILIFF1,6,7,8, Ms Breeanna Spring4,5, Mr Glenn Powell1, Ms Miranda Hendry4, Assoc Prof Alice Richardson3, Dr Fergus Gardiner2,3,4
1RFDS-WO, Jandakot, Perth , Australia , 2The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 3Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, 4Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Barton , Australia , 5Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, Australia , 6Emergency Department, Royal Perth Hospital , Perth , Australia , 7Medical School, Curtin University , Perth, Australia , 8Emergency Department, St John of God’s Hospital , Murdoch , Australia
Abstract:
Introduction: In May 2022, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations (RFDSWO), pioneered the introduction of the first organizational Helicopter Emergency Service with two Eurocopter EC-145 helicopters. A pilot study was undertaken to assess the implementation and flight crew confidence outcomes of supplementation of video simulation training to standard clinical training for helicopter aeromedical retrieval.
Methods: A 5-point Likert scale provided anonymous demographical data, with summarized results of means and standard deviations. Non-parametric tests were used to compare responses between control and experimental groups also from pre-training to post intervention to post-practical.
Results: Findings displayed increased confidence rates following a classroom session and further increases after a practical session in the control group. The intervention group showed a small rise in overall confidence levels after being shown video simulations following the completion of their classroom session prior to commencing their practical session.
Discussion: This study established that regardless of the airframe, clinical staff often with significant experience in aeromedical retrieval and critical care medicine, do not automatically have the confidence in performing critical care procedures in a new aircraft type to which they have not previously been orientated. The results display a statistically significant increase in confidence levels in procedural performance following the classroom session when compared to the pre-training questionnaire, with a subtle further rise when video simulations are included in the classroom session. When supplementing a classroom session with a practical simulation session, confidence levels continue to rise.
Conclusion: Implementing a comprehensive educational strategy including classroom and practical elements for clinical staff in their orientation to new aircraft improves confidence in performing critical care procedures if required inflight. Including inflight pre-recorded videos demonstrating these procedures are a useful adjunct to simulation training for flight crew in aeromedical retrieval. Further studies may show statistically significant improvement in staff confidence.
Biographies:
Glenn Powell is a Flight Nurse at the Royal Flying Doctor Service-Western Operations.