Research article
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Effect of an interprofessional simulation program on patient safety competencies of healthcare professionals in Switzerland: a before and after study
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Sylvain Boloré
, Thomas Fassier
, Nicolas Guirimand
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J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2023;20:25. Published online August 28, 2023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2023.20.25
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Abstract
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Supplementary Material
- Purpose
This study aimed to identify the effects of a 12-week interprofessional simulation program, operated between February 2020 and January 2021, on the patient safety competencies of healthcare professionals in Switzerland.
Methods
The simulation training was based on 2 scenarios of hospitalized patients with septic shock and respiratory failure, and trainees were expected to demonstrate patient safety competencies. A single-group before and after study was conducted after the intervention—simulation program, using a measurement tool (the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey) to measure the perceived competencies of physicians, nurses, and nursing assistants. Out of 57 participants, 37 answered the questionnaire surveys 4 times: 48 hours before the training, followed by post-surveys at 24 hours, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the training. The linear mixed effect model was applied for the analysis.
Results
Four components out of 6 perceived patient safety competencies improved at 6 weeks but returned to a similar level before training at 12 weeks. Competencies of “communicating effectively,” “managing safety risks,” “understanding human and environmental factors that influence patient safety,” and “recognize and respond to remove immediate risks of harm” are statistically significant both overall and in the comparison between before the training and 6 weeks after the training.
Conclusion
Interprofessional simulation programs contributed to developing some areas of patient safety competencies of healthcare professionals, but only for a limited time. Interprofessional simulation programs should be repeated and combined with other forms of support, including case discussions and debriefings, to ensure lasting effects.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Midwifery Students’ and Obstetricians’ Perception of Training in Non-Technical Skills
Coralie Fregonese, Paul Guerby, Gilles Vallade, Régis Fuzier
Simulation & Gaming.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Interprofessional education interventions for healthcare professionals to improve patient safety: a scoping review
Yan Jiang, Yan Cai, Xue Zhang, Cong Wang
Medical Education Online.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Educational/faculty development material
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Implementation and lessons learned from 2 online interprofessional faculty development programs for improving educational practice in the health professions in Chile and the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2021
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Cesar Orsini
, Veena Rodrigues
, Jorge Tricio
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J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2021;18:21. Published online August 9, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.21
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6,805
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320
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1
Web of Science
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1
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Abstract
PDF
Supplementary Material
- This study presents the design, implementation, and lessons learned from 2 fit-for-purpose online interprofessional faculty development programs for educational practice improvement in the health professions in Chile and the United Kingdom from 2018 to 2021. Both programs were designed to enhance teaching and learning practices in an interprofessional environment based on 4 pillars: professional diversity, egalitarianism, blended/online learning, and active learning strategies. A multidisciplinary mix of educators participated, showing similar results. The 3 main lessons learned were that the following factors facilitated an interprofessional environment: a professions-inclusive teaching style, a flexible learning climate, and interprofessional peer work. These lessons may be transferable to other programs seeking to enhance and support interprofessionality. Faculty development initiatives preparing educators for interprofessional practice should be an integral component of health professions education, as delivering these courses within professional silos is no longer justifiable. As the relevance of interprofessional education grows, an effective way of promoting interprofessonal education is to train the trainers in formal interprofessional settings.
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Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Perceived team roles of medical students: a five year cross-sectional study
Anke Boone, Mathieu Roelants, Karel Hoppenbrouwers, Corinne Vandermeulen, Marc Du Bois, Lode Godderis
BMC Medical Education.2022;[Epub] CrossRef