Healthcare professionals’ experience of using in situ simulation training in preparation for the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative focus group study from a Danish hospital

ObjectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic forced hospital organisation and healthcare professionals to prepare for large quantities of patients in isolation rooms. In situ simulation may seem promising in order to manage the organisational changes that the pandemic require. This study aims to investigate in situ simulations influence on healthcare professional’s self-perceived preparedness to face the pandemic.DesignA qualitative focus group study.SettingWe conducted full scale in situ simulations over a 3-week period in April 2020, including 277 healthcare professionals, at a Danish University Hospital. Subsequently, six semistructured focus group interviews, including 22 participants from the simulations, were conducted in May 2020.Participants22 healthcare professionals participated in the focus group interviews.MethodsThe simulations consisted of a briefing, two scenarios focusing on acute respiratory insufficiency and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and a debriefing. We conducted six focus group interviews using comparable semistructured interview guides focusing on the organisational restructuring of the departments and outcomes of the needs-driven simulation-based programme. We used thematic analysis to identify main themes.ResultsThe informants perceived that the simulations resulted in positive experiences for the healthcare professionals and perceived the organisational changes as effective. They highlighted that simulation enhanced teamwork, demystified the COVID-19 disease, and improved skills, in correct use of PPE and acute treatment of COVID-19 patients. Data revealed that a predefined simulation task force including both experienced simulators and medical experts for facilitation of in situ simulation would be beneficial.ConclusionIn situ simulation may be useful to enhance learning on organisation and individual level during a pandemic. This educational activity could serve an important role in facilitating hospital preparation and education of large numbers of healthcare professionals during a healthcare crisis. Introduction of a simulation task force is suggested to handle coordination and rapid enrolment across the hospital.

Enhancing Thai elementary students’ English and maintaining Thainess using localized materials: Two putative confronting forces

In Thailand, concerns over the imperative need to improve its citizens’ English proficiency and the unsatisfactory English learning outcomes have long been present. In addition, ongoing globalization has raised another concern that Thainess is being eroded due to external influences. This study attempted to compromise these two seemingly conflicting forces by enhancing Thai students’ global English and maintaining local Thainess associated with three regions of Thailand. First, a set of instructional innovations for elementary English education was constructed in each region. These were based on prominent characteristics of local Thainess elicited through a questionnaire completed by local community members and subsequently implemented in Grade 4 classes at three schools in each region of Thailand for ten weeks. Next, two separate sets of pretests-posttests corresponding to each instructional set were constructed and administered to assess their local Thainess and English knowledge. Finally, to ensure that the knowledge gained from the instruction was put into practical use, a tour guide simulation task was conducted by the students. The analysis of the test scores demonstrates that localized lessons were beneficial, enhancing their local Thainess knowledge and associated English vocabulary. The accomplishment of the task thus represented their knowledge of local Thainess and English, contributing to a sense of pride in their nation and a sense of achievement in their English proficiency and instruction.

Detection of symmetrical fault and discrimination from power swing using MOPSVC approach

Distance relay are designed with swing blocking/tripping logic to maintain reliable and secure operation of power system. To prevent this from happening, the relay is functioned with a power swing blocking (PSB) logic. However, ensuring proper detection to swing event requires to overcome from the dependable situation such as three-phase fault. The relay refuses to behave normally if both swing and three-phase fault occur simultaneously. Reliable setting is essential to generate trip/block command. Unsymmetrical faults are easily detected during the swing condition due to the presence of negative and zero sequence components, but such components are absent in the case of symmetrical/three-phase fault. As a result, symmetrical fault under blocking condition is unidentified many a times by the distance relay, arising security issues. To improve the relay operation during swing and symmetrical fault conditions, a MOPSVC (multiplication of positive sequence voltage and current) based index is developed in this work. The MOPSVC index helps to discern power swing from three-phase fault. To test the efficacy of the method, a 230 kV, 50 Hz two-area four machine system, and Indian Eastern Regional Grid (IERG) network are considered. Simulation task is conducted using EMTDC/PSCAD software. To investigate the performance of the proposed method, various swing phenomena, faults, CT saturation, switching transients, and the presence of noise cases are considered, and the results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed algorithm. Responses under stressed power system conditions are also investigated, and a report on comparisons with existing methods is provided. Simulated results confirm that the proposed algorithm can balance the dependability and security aspects of the protection logic.

Driving Skills of Individuals With and Without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/Dyspraxia)

Learning to drive is a significant event for the transition to adulthood and delay or avoidance may have social, practical, and psychological implications. For those with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/Dyspraxia), driving presents a considerable challenge, and the literature shows that there are differences in driving ability between individuals with and without DCD. The aim of the current research is to further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the driving experiences of individuals with DCD. Nineteen participants with DCD (10 drivers and 9 non-drivers) and 36 controls (17 drivers and 19 non-drivers) aged 18–57 years took part in this study. Participants completed standardized tests, questionnaires and a driving simulation task designed to measure speed, road positioning, and rate of change of steering in three conditions with increasing perceptual complexity. Results indicate that behaviors for all participants changed as the perceptual demands of the task increased. However, drivers with DCD were more affected than all other groups, driving more slowly, and driving further to the right. These findings illustrate how the impact of both internal and external constraints negatively affect the success of the driving task for individuals with DCD compared to their TD peers.

Development of a Cost-Effective Surgical Headlight Using Consumer Light Emitting Diode Lighting and 3D Printing

Need. Battery-powered Light Emitting Diode (LED) surgical headlights are necessary for improved intraoperative illumination but may be costly. Technical Solution. The objective of this study was to develop a low-cost surgical headlight using a consumer-grade LED headlight and 3D-printed mount. Proof of Concept. Eighteen surgical residents performed simulation exercises that mimicked suturing in the oral cavity using both a custom prototype headlight and a commercial surgical headlight. The time required to complete the task with each headlight was recorded along with an exit survey. A second device was created based on the critiques of the first device and was tested by ten additional surgical trainees. Surgical residents completed the simulation task in 27 ± 8.6 seconds and 21 ± 5.6 seconds with the commercially available headlight and first prototype, respectively. In the second experiment, the simulation task was completed in 23 ± 11.1 and 23 ± 12.2 seconds with the commercially available headlight and second device, respectively. Survey results showed an overall positive consensus, with critiques about headband security, suggestions for smaller LED chassis, and a more robust mounting bracket. Some preferred the prototype headlight due to the wider field of illumination compared to the commercially available unit (ie, beam spread/beam angle). Next Steps. Future adjustments are required to optimize the location of the headlight and the battery to modify the weight distribution of the device. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that our prototype models are viable alternatives to conventional surgical headlights and warrant continued optimization for broader adoption by surgeons and trainees for whom higher-cost alternatives are not an option.

A Sensor Simulation Framework for Training and Testing Robots and Autonomous Vehicles

Computer simulation can be a useful tool when designing robots expected to operate independently in unstructured environments. In this context, one needs to simulate the dynamics of the robot’s mechanical system, the environment in which the robot operates, and the sensors which facilitate the robot’s perception of the environment. Herein, we focus on the sensing simulation task by presenting a virtual sensing framework built alongside an open-source, multi-physics simulation platform called Chrono. This framework supports camera, lidar, GPS, and IMU simulation. We discuss their modeling as well as the noise and distortion implemented to increase the realism of the synthetic sensor data. We close with two examples that show the sensing simulation framework at work: one pertains to a reduced scale autonomous vehicle and the second is related to a vehicle driven in a digital replica of a Madison neighborhood.

Do Video Games Predict an Early Advanced Capacity to Learn Interventional Radiology Skills?

Purpose: To elucidate the relationship between video game (VG) play and interventional radiology (IR) technical skills in medical students. Materials and Methods: Twenty medical students recruited at our institution’s IR symposium completed a survey to ascertain demographics and prior VG experience, then participated in a 3-part trial of skills assessing IR and VG skill and visuospatial aptitude (VSA). IR skill was evaluated via an endovascular simulation task, VG skill by performance on three separate VGs, and VSA using the Cube Comparison test. Regression analysis was tested the strength of relationship between IR skill and VG experience, VG skill, and VSA, respectively, and participants were stratified by IR skill to top and bottom halves for survey-response comparison. Results: There was no correlation between either VG skill or visuospatial aptitude and IR skill (r = −0.22, p = 0.35; and r = 0.14, p = 0.57). Greater number of years playing VGs correlated with superior IR skill (Spearman’s rho=-0.45, p<0.05). Students who selected IR as their specialty of interest had extensive VG experience, playing for > 15 years (n = 4, 80%), at least 10 hours per week at their peak (n = 3, 60%), and reported being either “skilled” or “highly skilled” at VGs (n = 3, 60%). Conclusions: In our study, though limited by power, number of years playing VGs correlated positively with IR skills in medical students. Prior VG experience may predict an early advanced capacity to learn IR skills and an interest in the specialty.