International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background and aim:

The use of simulation in healthcare has increased in recent years. It is frequently used for replicating clinical scenarios and allows for the acquisition of skills in a safe environment. Whilst enabling candidates to make mistakes and learn from them without fear of harming patients is used across many specialities including paediatric emergency medicine for a range of teaching across all professional groups, Lateef [1] identifies that in order for it to reach its maximum potential, it needs to be integrated in traditional training programmes. This is becoming more commonplace. In order to know how to fully integrate it into practice, an understanding of how it is currently being used is essential. This scoping view aims to explore how simulation training is being used and what it is used for within paediatric emergency medicine (PEM), as reported by the literature.

Methods:

This review followed a five-step scoping review framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley [2]. Literature searches were conducted in Medline and CINAHL with no limitation applied. Sixty-six studies were screened. Reference lists were also screened. Of the screened studies, 25 were subject to full test review and 19 were included in the final review. Articles were screened at all levels by one reviewer. Data extraction was also carried out by one reviewer.

Results:

No papers focused on the delivery of simulation within paediatric emergency medicine in the UK, with the majority of papers originating from the USA. There was also no paper that outlined the varied uses of simulation in PEM. Many of the papers described and evaluated single scenarios that were used in varying settings or simulation courses that were not specific to PEM. Both high and low fidelity simulations were reported with much of the focus on high-fidelity simulation. Delivered through either simulation suite-based learning or in situ simulation. There is little discussion about the use of simulation for interpersonal and communication skills with only one paper mentioning this. Frequently simulation focuses on the acquisition of individual procedures and skill acquisition. Alongside this simulation is also reported to be used to test responses to rare or complicated cases or high-pressured scenarios such as resuscitation.

Conclusion:

This scoping review reveals that the extent to which simulation is used within PEM is largely unknown and requires further investigation.

Ethics statement:

Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.