Effectiveness of simulator-assisted training in the retention of advanced cardiac life support skills.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to answer the PICO question 'In health care professional training: does the use of simulators in training compared to traditional teaching methods enhance the retention of ACLS Skills'? The methodology involved a systematic review of literature, definition of key words, and search in various data bases, a research design aimed at testing the PICO question through the application of critical appraisal tools. Findings revealed that despite a few constraints simulators were more effective in retaining ACLS skills, but this achievement largely depends on the costs of this intervention. Considerations within the context of practice setting however revealed that the current national agenda was not towards simulators being the main method of teaching ACLS skills to enhance retention. From a local health care perspective it is being practised in isolation by a few sectors. Therefore recommendations are that governmental agencies and health educators are the key people in implementing strategies that would make simulators the main teaching technique in ACLS. They also should play a vital role in disseminating the information retrieved from this study. Implications for practice lay in nursing and medical educators together with responsible people for providing equipment and teach ACLS. Hence, they have to be trained first and the framework for the intervention must include this aspect of transition. A limitation to the study is the cost to buy, maintain and provide any consumables required. An audit by experienced personnel is required. It may be required that ACLS trainers are prescreened for training to evaluate whether they possess the compatible pre-requisites interfacing with simulators. As such pre-qualifying entries may have to be updated. Retesting for ACLS skills needs to be carried out over a stipulated time to enhance retention of skills. Nursing service may then have to acquire modern equipment for executing techniques learnt when simulators are the main agent in the teaching/learning intervention.