Learning needs analysis comparing novice and expert opinion, to develop a simulation-based intensive care unit training programme

Abstract

A learning needs analysis was performed using an online survey to establish the most appropriate curriculum for a simulation-based intensive care training programme for junior physiotherapists. Perceptions were compared between an intensive care-naïve ‘novice’ group of rotational physiotherapists from a single tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and an ‘expert’ group of senior intensive care physiotherapists from across Australia. The learning needs analysis survey involved two questions. Question one required participants to rank assessment topics for perceived training importance from 1 (greatest) to 6 (least). Question two required participants to select which treatment topics from a list (total 15) they felt important for further training. 14/15 (93%) of the novice group, and 15/16 (94%) of the expert group completed the surveys. The highest ranked assessment topics for both groups were assessing intubated, ventilated patients and assessment of haemodynamically unstable patients. The highest rated treatment topics for both groups were lung  hyperinflation, and rehabilitation. Based on these results and practical considerations, the subsequently developed simulation-based intensive care training programme comprised four modules: general assessment of an intensive care unit patient, assessment of haemodynamically unstable patients, positioning, and lung hyperinflation.