Becoming Parent and Nurse: High-Fidelity Simulation in Teaching Ambulatory Central Line Infection Prevention to Parents of Children with Cancer

Carol E. Heiser Rosenberg, Mary F Terhaar, Judith A. Ascenzi, Anna Walbert, K. Michelle Kokoszka, Julianne S. Perretta, Marlene R. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Ambulatory central-line infections in children with cancer are life-threatening. Infections are two to three times more frequent in outpatients than inpatients, for whom evidence-based bundles have decreased morbidity. Most cancer care now takes place at home, where parents perform many of the same tasks as nurses. However, parents often feel stressed and unprepared. To address this, high-fidelity simulation, which has been effective for teaching novice nurses, was evaluated for parent central-line education. Methods In a feasibility study using a pretest/posttest design, after completion of usual central-line education, parents participated in a high-fidelity simulation practice session. Parents were assessed in three domains: (1) knowledge of infection prevention; (2) psychomotor skill competence; and (3) ability to recognize health care provider nonadherence to best practices. Parents also completed a 5-point Likert simulation experience survey. Results A convenience sample of 17 parents participated between December 2015 and March 2016. Knowledge median scores increased from pre- to posttest from 10 to 15 of 16 points possible (p ≤ 0.001; Wilcoxon signed rank test). Median skills scores increased from pre- to posttest from 8 to 12 points of 12 possible (p ≤ 0.001). Following simulation, median recognition scores increased from 3 to 6 with 6 points possible (p ≤ 0.001). For the parent experience survey, 100% of participants strongly agreed or agreed that simulation was meaningful for learning central-line care. Conclusions As an adjunct to usual care central-line education, translation of high-fidelity simulation to parent education is a novel approach that shows promise for improving central-line care at home in children with cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)251-258
Number of pages8
JournalJoint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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