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Background
Healthcare simulation is a key teaching method for healthcare professionals, aimed at improving training, professional practices, and risk management. To encourage the use of healthcare simulation, in 2012 the French National Authority for Health (HAS) published a review of existing initiatives at national and international level, as well as a good practice guide for organisations wishing to implement and offer simulation programmes to professionals. In 2015, a framework was introduced for evaluating simulation infrastructures, driving a quality improvement approach. As simulation practices have evolved, HAS and the French-language Healthcare Simulation Society (SoFraSimS) wanted to update the good practice guide to reflect current needs.
Assessment Method
Between 2016 and 2020, SoFraSimS conducted a trial with volunteer simulation structures to assess the good practice guide. Furthermore, the update of the good practice guide was also based on a review of the literature (including international recommendations) and the expert opinion of a working group.
Key Findings
The results revealed that certain practices, which had not been fully developed in the guide, needed to be improved, namely:
- the simulation programmes : some scenarios lacked quality and document management practices were underdeveloped ;
- the organisation of simulation structures : limited resources were dedicated to training and few structures were involved in continuous professional development ;
- the good practices in simulation for specific activities (in situ simulation, surgical simulation, numerical simulation…).
Moreover, general principles on healthcare simulation have been added or completed (infectious risk prevention and ethical considerations).
Future prospects
In March 2024, the good practice guide was updated to incorporate new requirements and improved practices, particularly in in situ and digital simulations. A revision of the assessment guide is planned for 2025, focusing on both resource allocation and the quality of simulation programs.
