Assessment of Ebola Training Efficacy Using Respondent Surveys

Purpose:
To train staff regarding don/doff practices for High Risk Infectious Patients (HRIP) and measure perceptions of: (a)confidence to safely don/doff and to remain safe while caring for HRIPs, and (b)the most helpful learning methods. Survey results were used to plan longitudinal refresher training.

Relevance/Significance:
When the West African Ebola outbreak spread to the United States in 2014, a team of education nurse specialists developed and implemented training for healthcare employees from two community hospitals who volunteered to care for High Risk Infectious Patients (HRIPs). This project demonstrated the use of an electronic survey to assess learners perceptions of preparedness to care for HRIPs. The data may assist other organizations in evaluating their own preparedness training.

Strategy and Implementation:
Training was developed and stratified by learner role: physicians attended a 3-hour PPE donning/doffing training, direct care providers attended 8 hours of donning/doffing training that included participation in scenarios created by the Center's Simulation Lab, and ED staff attended a 4-hour training that focused on the use of PPE and HRIP practices. Educational modalities were used to reinforce learning, including videos, hands on practice, simulation, and debriefing. The study team used an electronic survey to assess the efficacy of the training by measuring learner perceptions of: (a) self-reported confidence to safely don/doff PPE and to remain safe while caring for HRIPs and (b) the most helpful learning methods. Survey items also explored learner suggestions for additional training.

Evaluation:
Regardless of course length, participants (n=183) reported an unacceptably low level of confidence to properly don/doff PPE and remain safe while caring for HRIPs prior to training. Confidence improved significantly after completing hands on training and/or simulation. Learner feedback about further training was incorporated into the refresher training plan.

Implications for Practice:
Results confirmed that the training program was successful. Learners needed only 3 minutes, on average, to complete the survey, confirming the feasibility of conducting objective evaluations. Future evaluations should consider measuring both attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.