Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Appropriately trained medical staff and a medically safe environment are critical at diabetes camps. We designed a simulation-based curriculum for training medical staff to manage common diabetes scenarios in a camp environment. Camp medical staff from a variety of disciplines participated in three simulation scenarios focused on responding to diabetes emergencies (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia with ketosis) and addressing use of insulin pumps. Scenarios were developed utilizing the conceptual framework of cognitive load theory and purposefully included background distractions to mimic a camp environment. Participants completed demographic surveys (including profession, prior experience in diabetes) and workload assessments. Twenty-five medical staff completed the surveys; most were female, aged 25-34 years, and physician trainees (residents, fellows). The majority of medical staff (N=16) had some diabetes training prior to camp orientation. However, very few had experience with or training in diabetes technology or emergencies that required the administration of insulin or glucagon. Workload assessments, completed at the beginning and end of camp by the simulation participants revealed a statistically significant decrease in temporal demand (p = 0.03) felt by the medical staff. Our simulation curriculum addressed a knowledge gap related to emergency management of diabetes and understanding of diabetes technology. It also was successful in demonstrating a decrease in temporal load or time demands reported by the participants. Next steps include comparative studies of simulation vs. standard orientation on medical staff knowledge and cognitive load, and evaluation of camper outcomes.
