The Co-design of Simulation-Based Training for Collaboration Between Healthcare Services

As part of developing simulation-based training for better collaboration between healthcare services, we developed instruments for measuring key teamwork constructs role understanding (responsibility), trust, communication and collaboration as experienced during simulation-based training in virtual reality. We co-designed these instruments together with healthcare workers and healthcare students in three workshops and a survey. We followed a method for generating unidimensional Thurstone scales with equal-appearing intervals. We then used the instruments in training sessions with healthcare students. We gathered feedback on the simulation and conducted initial analyses on the instrument data. Results are encouraging for the simulation design, but with clear points for improvement. The preliminary analyses from the instruments indicate that they seem to measure the intended constructs as perceived by the training audience. Correlational analyses indicate relationships between these constructs, particularly highlighting the challenge of balancing responsibility with trust and collaboration. Findings advocate the potential in our approach to mirror realistically, and improve, collaborative practices among healthcare professionals.