gms | German Medical Science

Research question: Childhood hospital deaths often occur during or shortly after admission, although many are preventable with timely identification and treatment. Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT) addresses this gap and aims to systematically improve the quality of emergency care, particularly in low-resource settings such as Sierra Leone. To date, evaluations of ETAT trainings have mostly been conducted by testing participants’ knowledge immediately after training. However, long-term evaluation is usually lacking, and it remains unclear whether participants achieve their practical learning outcomes. This study aims to fill this gap by developing an assessment tool consisting of three simulation scenarios, simulation setups and evaluation forms to measure the practical learning outcomes of participants of ETAT-based training. The objectives of this study are to (1) develop an assessment tool consisting of three simulation scenarios, setups and evaluation forms, (2) validate the simulation scenarios and setups by experts, filmed pilot tests and feedback from participants, and (3) measure participants’ knowledge and self-efficacy expectations before and after an ETAT training, and the practical learning outcomes using the assessment tool.

Methods: We developed the assessment tool and simulation setups based on literature review, expert support and current guidelines. In addition, we used a feedback-based, multi-stage editing process with experts and filmed pilot tests with >90% interrater reliability to validate the tool. Furthermore, we will use participant feedback based on the National League for Nursing’s Simulation Design Scale. To test knowledge, we used a questionnaire compiled from current literature and administered the questionnaire before and after the training. Furthermore, we assessed participants’ practical learning outcomes using our assessment tool six weeks and six months after the training. Finally, we assessed participants’ self-efficacy expectations using the General Self-Efficacy Scale.

Preliminary results and discussion: The simulation training provided an additional training benefit for the participants through repeated scenario training. Findings indicate a positive impact on knowledge, practical skills and self-efficacy expectations after the training, but the final data analysis is still ongoing. We expect the final results to be used to evaluate and improve this particular course, new ETAT-based courses and to inform discussions within the child health community. In this way, we hope to contribute to further reducing in-hospital child mortality in Sierra Leone and beyond.