Piloting the SAPHA practical part

The theory part of SAPHA (Patient handling in safe and rehabilitating way)-course is carried out in the form of online studies. The practical part consists of wide range of practical pedagogical approaches, including practical session in classroom, simulations, and assignments in the clinical practise. The project is currently piloting the different sections of the practical part. The simulation pedagogy has raised particular interest among the project partners, and as previously experienced in simulations, Turku UAS is willing to share their expertise. This blog post reflects the SAPHA practical part piloting in Turku UAS in spring term 2021. 

 

The valuable feedback from physiotherapy students 

 

Second year physiotherapy students participated in the piloting of the practical part, both classroom sessions and simulations. The students used the educational videos produced in RENE and participated in practical sessions, which were planned in co-operation with RENE consortium. The contents of the sessions are aligned with evidence-based practises. In the same way, patient handling will be learned this spring by students in Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, and Spain. We will collect feedback during the spring and further develop the practical part based on the feedback.

The students in TUAS raised in their feedback, that the role of physiotherapist is highly important in actively assisting the patient, how to activate the patient in relation to ergonomic and qualified patient handling. The challenge of their future profession is that the physiotherapists must be able to guide care professionals in ergonomic patient handling and they take into account the differences in basic educational in physiotherapy and medical care. However, similar competences are required in the use of assistive aids, risk assessment and in assessment of patients’ functional capacity. The students’ reflection and feedback brought great ideas for the RENE teams to continue development work. The end-users’ feedback has a great value in all development work.

 

Testing simulations 

 

In May, we settled videoconference system for all RENE members to access the simulations in Simulation Center in Turku. The same second-year physiotherapy students were now piloting the RENE simulations. Four students were selected to work in the simulation room, in which the patient handling situation took place. The patient had the most significant role in these piloted simulation scenarios; the better drama skills the student has, the more genuine situation is generated. Other students were observing the patient handling in debriefing room. RENE team in Europe and some Finnish students observed the simulation remotely. The Simulation center has multiple monitors, so the patient handling situation was observable from different views at the same time.

In a simulation situation, the students gave their best to assist the patient according to the patient’s functional ability and with the necessary assistive aids. The observers in debriefing room evaluated the situation from different perspectives. After the simulation situation, all together, the teacher, the observers and the students who acted in the simulator, discussed about simulation: what happened, what went well and what could be improved. It was fruitful to consider situation from different viewpoints.

It was great to follow how students performed the situation nicely in English. They found excellent solutions and dealt the patient situations with a broad perspective. 

Looking forwards to the experiences from simulations in other partner countries!

 

9.6.2021 Turku

Minna Lahti and Marion Karppi

Sources:

https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/tutkimus-kehitys-ja-innovaatiot/hae-projekteja/rene-renewing-ergonomic-education-health-care-stud/ 
https://rene.ut.ee/avaleht 
Simulaatiokeskus SimuCenter. Simulaatiokeskus SimuCenter palvelee eri alojen toimijoita. https://www.turkuamk.fi/fi/tyoelamapalvelut/palvelut/simucenter-simulaatiokeskus/  –  Used 21.5.2021