Health Commun.  2020 Dec;15(2):95-101. 10.15715/kjhcom.2020.15.2.95.

The effect of paramedic’s emergency patient simulation training - course using standardized communication tools and simulation

• Bae GE
• Chung HS
• Hong JY
• Noh J
• Cho J
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2526473
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15715/kjhcom.2020.15.2.95

Abstract

Background
: Since primary emergency treatment should be performed appropriately and promptly, efficient and accurate communication between paramedics and medical staff is paramount to a successful primary emergency treatment and patient handover. The problem of the training program in Korea is that it concentrates more on in-class lectures, often delivered by non-medical specialists, who may lack in practical experience and without proper communication training. To solve this problem, we have devised a simulation based training that focuses on event debriefings and two-way communication.
Methods
: 62 paramedics from 3 stations enrolled in the study. 4 different courses with different emergency situations were created and each course was taken twice resulting in a total of 8 classes. All courses were based on actual cases. The curriculum consisted of subject lectures with guidelines, skill practice courses, and simulation courses based on hands-on method. In simulation courses, paramedics use standardized check list to communicate with medical specialists. All curriculums except subject lectures include debriefing, which allows free talking with educators comprised of medical specialists. In order to measure the educational impact, all students performed self-assessment through a structured questionnaire before and after the training.
Results
: Regardless different situations and paramedics’ education level, their performance and communication skills have improved after simulation training course. Paramedics mentioned learning skills in simulation course through communication with medical staffs as the biggest advantage.
Conclusion
: Receiving the simulation training with standardized communication tools is effective at enhancing the communication between the paramedics and medical staff.

Keyword

Communication; Simulation; Paramedic