title: A multi-professional full-scale simulation course in the recognition and management of deteriorating hospital patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recognition and management of deteriorating patients is often suboptimal, resulting in adverse events that may be avoided if a unified understanding of the signs and needs of deteriorating patients is secured through the education of staff. This paper describes the planning and evaluation of a multi-professional, full-scale simulation-based course for hospital professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic approach to course development was used and the programme was introduced on four general wards in a university hospital. Experts from the wards were trained as educators and participated in the course development. A needs assessment consisting of an observational study, questionnaires and interviews resulted in the creation of learning objectives to provide the road map for content and teaching methods. A 1-day multi-professional ward-specific educational programme with full-scale simulations, mini-lectures, case discussions and practical training was planned. Course material, a manual for educators and questionnaires for evaluation of the course were developed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 1-day full-scale simulation-based educational programme was developed and 50% of the medical staff and 70% of the nursing staff on four wards were trained in a 5-month period. The course was highly rated in terms of content and teaching methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The systematic approach for developing the course resulted in a relevant, highly rated course, deeply rooted in the wards, implying the opportunity to facilitate local improvements and adjust the content to local needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a systematic approach was successful in the development of this multi-professional full-scale simulation-based educational programme, which has proven to be easily applicable and usable.
authors.affiliation: Danish Institute for Medical Simulation, Herlev Hospital, Capital Region of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark. fuhrmann@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fuhrmann
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lippert
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perner
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013192:Staff Development