A national pilot study on simulation-based upstander training for emergency medicine clinicians

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-24-2024

Publication Title

AEM Education and Training

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study assesses the effectiveness of clinical simulation-based training in boosting self-perceived confidence for using upstander communication skills to confront racism, discrimination, and microaggressions (RDM). METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study with emergency medicine professionals at the 2023 Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. The study featured a clinical simulation-based training on upstander communications skills session followed by small- and large-group debriefs. Participants completed pre- and post-training questionnaires assessing demographics and confidence in health equity competencies. This survey was used in a previous study with emergency medicine residents. Data were analyzed using an independent Student's -test, with a significance threshold of 0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-two individuals participated in the simulation-based training, and 24 completed surveys, with a 75% response rate. Most participants were non-Hispanic (24, 85.7%) and women (18, 64%), with racial demographics mostly White (8, 28.6%), Black or African American (8, 28.6%), and Asian (6, 21.4%). After the workshop, there was a notable increase in self-perceived ability and confidence in identifying RDM (from 7 ± 3.2 to 8.6 ± 1.6, < 0.003), using upstander communication tools (from 6.1 ± 3.5 to 8.5 ± 1, < 0.0001), and the likelihood of intervening in RDM situations (from 7.1 ± 3.3 to 8.8 ± 1.1, < 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical simulation-based training significantly improved participants' confidence and self-perceived ability to address RDM in simulated clinical environments. This training method is a promising tool for teaching health equity topics in clinical medicine.

First Page

e10990

PubMed ID

38800608

Volume

8

Issue

3

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