Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service II (Projects aiming to enhance clinical safety and outcomes, clinical governance / risk management)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
HA Young Investigators Session (Projects to be presented by HA staff who had joined HA for 10 years or less)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chang ST(1), Tsang WL(1), Mak WL(1), Ho YK(1), Yung HC(1), KY Wong(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital
Introduction :
Tracheostomy is common to patients who experienced major head and neck surgery or required prolong mechanical ventilator support after surgery. Tracheostomy emergency is always associated with high mortality as it involves airway management. Prompt and proper emergency response is crucial in preventing life-threatening event. A virtual clinical scenario was applied to improve surgical nurses’ overall competency on handling tracheostomy emergency in real-world practice.
Objectives :
(1) To strengthen participants’ knowledge regarding tracheostomy; (2) to enhance participants’ clinical competency and confidence level on managing tracheostomy emergency through scenario-based simulation workshop; (3) to exercise effective communication and teamwork when responding to tracheostomy emergency.
Methodology :
A 1.5-hour simulation workshop was held on 27th December 2023. All UCH surgical nurses were invited to join irrespective of their ranking and clinical experience. Participants underwent wrong capping trial, blockage of tracheostomy tube and bedside tracheostomy tube changing in the scenario.
Pre-post workshop survey was designed using multiple choice questions and 5-point Likert scale to assess staff knowledge level, self-ranked confidence level and the effectiveness of the course. Besides, participants were interviewed with semi-structured open questions to collect more in-depth information on learning outcomes.
Result & Outcome :
Participants’ confidence level on handling tracheostomy emergency and assisting in bedside tracheostomy tube changing significantly increased by nearly 65% and 80%. In terms of the understanding level on tracheostomy capping trial and decannulation, there is almost 70% improvement of the mean score seen in post-test. Participants specifically reported that more understanding was gained on the precaution of different types of tracheostomy tube during resuscitation. Other positive feedbacks given by the respondents included “the workshop is practical”, “the workshop gave a clear knowledge on tracheostomy”, “learnt how to care tracheostomy patients” and “learnt effective communication”. Over 90% of participants recommended the department to arrange more similar simulation workshops in future.
Participants revealed increments on knowledge, competency, and confidence in managing tracheostomy emergency after training. Tracheostomy care training using simulation approach facilitated individual learning and participants were satisfied with it.
