Collaborative skills training for primary health care via multimodal simulation

Abstract Background Austrian primary health care (PHC) units are increasingly important in providing regionally tailored, high-quality care through interprofessional teams. Barriers e.g. poor communication and unclear roles hinder effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC). This highlights the need for interprofessional (continued) education programs. In response, a feasibility study was conducted and is followed by efforts to integrate the developed and tested training modules into relevant curricula. It will be possible to adapt the modules to meet the needs of other countries. Objectives Health care professionals working in PHC and students participated in specially developed, proprietary, case-oriented, three-week modules consisting of simulations (acting patients, high-fidelity manikins, virtual reality) and didactic on- and offline elements. Three different modules with two case studies each were tested. In addition to proprietary questions, two standardized assessments (Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS), Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale 9a&b (ISVS)) were applied before (t0) and directly after (t1) the modules to evaluate the impact on IPC. Results 18 participants finished the modules. Skills in problem solving (89%), teamwork (89%) and communication (78%) were gained by most participants. From t0 to t1, no significant effects were found in the ISVS, the ICAAS revealed significant effects (p<.001). Of note, only 33% reported having participated in IPC training before. Conclusions Despite a limited number of participants, the training modules proved conducive in enhancing IPC. Participant feedback enabled the refinement of the modules and an integration into the local as well as international curricula is possible. The feasibility study demonstrated the added value of these interprofessional, collaborative training modules as a foundation for effective, innovative and long-term sustainable healthcare provision. Key messages • The case-oriented, multi-day training modules, incorporating simulations and didactic elements, can help improving IPC in Austrian PHC. • The modules should be integrated into respective curricula.