Comparing Learning Outcomes for Mental Health Simulation Training Delivered to Entire Clinical Teams Versus Professionals Not Working Together Clinically

Abstract

Introduction

Working effectively with colleagues using a multidisciplinary and interprofessional approach is vital in healthcare, particularly mental health, where the interface between physical and mental health is often missed due to involvement with different specialties. Collaborative clinical practice is essential to provide the best clinical care to people experiencing mental and physical health comorbidities. Simulation training encourages experiential learning for human factors (or non-technical) skills, such as teamwork and interprofessional collaboration. This study explored the differences in learning outcomes between team and non-team training for physical and mental health comorbidities.

Aims and objectives

This project aimed to establish differences in human factors learning, confidence and knowledge, following training for teams that work together versus interprofessional groups from various teams. The project hoped to continue improving mental health simulation training and promote and enhance human factor skills that are basic pillars of multi-disciplinary and interprofessional care.

Methods

The human factors skills for healthcare instrument (HFSHI), alongside confidence and knowledge measures were administered to all participants pre and post simulation training on interacting mental and physical health. A post-course evaluation survey with open questions was used to collect qualitative feedback on the impact of the training course.

Results

With data collection ongoing, preliminary results indicate differences between team and non-team simulation training, with particularly interesting qualitative findings.

Conclusions

Learning outcomes may differ for team versus non-team simulation training, evidencing the different value of these two training set-ups.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.