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Simulation Today Autumn 2019

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Volume 1 No. 1<br />

<strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> <strong>Today</strong><br />

A resource for all involved in the teaching and practice of simulation<br />

iSimulate - Train<br />

anywhere at any<br />

time with our flexible<br />

simulation systems.<br />

In this issue<br />

Must Read Online Resources for<br />

EMS <strong>Simulation</strong> Training<br />

Used across the world for Nurse /<br />

Paramedic and Medical education<br />

A Space to Think<br />

Notions of Reality in <strong>Simulation</strong><br />

Training<br />

www.iSimulate.com<br />

See reverse for Resuscitation <strong>Today</strong>


CONTENTS<br />

CONTENTS<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> <strong>Today</strong><br />

4 EDITORS COMMENT<br />

6 FEATURE Must Read Online Resources for EMS <strong>Simulation</strong><br />

Training Program Success<br />

9 FEATURE A Space to Think<br />

15 FEATURE Notions of reality in simulation training<br />

17 FEATURE Focused nurse-defibrillation training: A simple and<br />

cost-effective strategy to improve survival from<br />

in-hospital cardiac arrest<br />

21 COMPANY NEWS<br />

This issue edited by:<br />

David Halliwell MSc<br />

c/o Media Publishing Company<br />

Media House<br />

48 High Street<br />

SWANLEY, Kent BR8 8BQ<br />

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PUBLISHED:<br />

Spring, Summer and <strong>Autumn</strong><br />

COPYRIGHT:<br />

Media Publishing Company<br />

Media House<br />

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COVER STORY<br />

iSimulate provides smart simulation solutions that are used by clinical<br />

education organizations across the world. Our mantra is simple – we use the<br />

best of current mobile technology (iPads etc) to create products that are more<br />

realistic, cost effective and simpler to use than traditional simulation solutions.<br />

The latest version - REALITi360 is a modular simulation ecosystem<br />

incorporating a patient simulator, CPR feedback and video capture in a single<br />

simulation system.<br />

Please contact us for further information:<br />

Info@isimulate.com<br />

www.isimulate.com<br />

PUBLISHERS STATEMENT:<br />

The views and opinions expressed in<br />

this issue are not necessarily those of<br />

the Publisher, the Editors or Media<br />

Publishing Company.<br />

Next Issue Spring 2020<br />

Subscription Information – <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2019</strong><br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> <strong>Today</strong> is a tri-annual publication<br />

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SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

3


EDITORS COMMENT<br />

EDITORS COMMENT<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> is an educational tool or technique which is dramatically changing as<br />

our students embrace new ways of learning and teaching.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

“3D printing<br />

and scanning<br />

are becoming<br />

common in<br />

hospitals as<br />

we develop<br />

new lifelike<br />

education<br />

tools, and the<br />

“make your<br />

own” teaching<br />

tool community<br />

continues to<br />

gain traction.”<br />

Historically our thoughts were shaped by a few key individuals, whose interest in undertaking<br />

medical simulation were driven by a desire to improve a technique or promote a particular<br />

method of clinical practice. (An example of which is the ‘Resuscitation Annie’ – developed by<br />

Laerdal, which was specifically developed to promote participation as the global desire to teach<br />

resuscitation came into the public consciousness.)<br />

But <strong>Simulation</strong> in the 21st century is very different to that of the last century. As educators we<br />

have new tools at our disposal, we have access to cheap Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality,<br />

Virtual Reality, all of which are being used to enhance Medical and Nursing / Paramedical AHP<br />

education.<br />

3D printing and scanning are becoming common in hospitals as we develop new lifelike<br />

education tools, and the “make your own” teaching tool community continues to gain traction.<br />

This Journal will feature many of the leading thinkers in Healthcare <strong>Simulation</strong>, and will share ideas<br />

from the worlds of Human Factors, Education and Educational Equipment.<br />

We will be sharing individual experiences, and showcasing leading products and engaging with<br />

key thinkers from around the world.<br />

We hope that this journal will be seen as a resource and is packed with sufficient information to<br />

make it useful as a reference point for the reader.<br />

Best Wishes<br />

David Halliwell MSc<br />

David Halliwell is a Senior Teaching Fellow at 2 x UK Universities, leading modules in healthcare<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong>.<br />

A senior NHS clinician and manager for many years, David developed many educational<br />

programmes and learning strategies, most recently he began developing his own education<br />

tools. Lecturing internationally – he recently won the “Best Overall Presentation” at the Simghosts<br />

conference in Miami.<br />

4


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HPSN UK <strong>2019</strong> is an international conference focused on advancing the practice and<br />

innovation of healthcare simulation for educators, technologists, technicians, nurses,<br />

doctors, midwives, allied health, patient safety leads and other healthcare professionals.<br />

Make valuable connections, experience exciting keynotes and attend special events.<br />

Call for Sessions<br />

Share your expertise in a workshop,<br />

presentation or poster. Abstract submissions<br />

until October 30th at hpsn.com<br />

Register Now<br />

Don’t miss out as space is limited for this<br />

free event.<br />

Register at hpsn.com<br />

Your worldwide<br />

training partner<br />

of choice


FEATURE<br />

MUST READ ONLINE RESOURCES<br />

FOR EMS SIMULATION TRAINING<br />

PROGRAM SUCCESS<br />

Lance Baily BA, EMT-B (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancebaily/)<br />

Founder of Healthy<strong>Simulation</strong>.com & SimGHOSTS.org<br />

Lance@Healthy<strong>Simulation</strong>.com<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

In the United States, a National Association for EMS Educators<br />

(NAEMSE) supported research article entitled “<strong>Simulation</strong> Use in<br />

Paramedic Education Research (SUPER): A Descriptive Study” reported<br />

on the utilization of medical simulation in EMS programs across the<br />

Country. The publication found some shocking results, in that had some<br />

shocking findings, in that:<br />

“Paramedic programs reported they have or have access to a wide<br />

range of simulation resources” but that “<strong>Simulation</strong> equipment (of any<br />

type) reportedly sits idle and unused in (31%) of programs” due to “lack<br />

of training”.<br />

With the methodology of medical simulation following behind the<br />

advances in healthcare simulation technology, combined with the<br />

inability of programs to invest beyond equipment into instructor training<br />

-- it is no wonder clinical simulation in EMS is slow to adopt. That’s<br />

why administrators and EMS Training program directors must carefully<br />

consider the need to train and educate instructors as a true cost of<br />

providing simulation training, beyond the shiny new toys of medical<br />

simulators.<br />

Finding key resources is half the battle, so here below are a brief<br />

breakdown of the 5 Top Medical <strong>Simulation</strong> resource articles available<br />

for free on Healthy<strong>Simulation</strong>.com to help EMS programs across the UK<br />

jump start or expand their simulation programs.<br />

Healthy<strong>Simulation</strong>.com is the leading online medical simulation<br />

resource website providing the latest news, conference highlights,<br />

research updates, job listings, product demos and more!<br />

1. <strong>Simulation</strong> Use in Paramedic Education Research (SUPER):<br />

A Descriptive Study<br />

(https://www.healthysimulation.com/7081/simulation-use-inparamedic-education-research-super-a-descriptive-study/).<br />

The purpose of this research was to characterize the use of<br />

simulation in initial paramedic education programs in order to assist<br />

stakeholders’ efforts to target educational initiatives and resources.<br />

This group sought to provide a snapshot of what simulation<br />

resources programs have or have access to and how they are<br />

used; faculty perceptions about simulation; whether program<br />

characteristics, resources, or faculty training influence simulation<br />

use; and if simulation resources are uniform for patients of all ages.<br />

2. JEMS: Standardization of EMS <strong>Simulation</strong> Activities<br />

Improves the Learning Experience<br />

(https://www.healthysimulation.com/16618/jemsstandardization-of-ems-simulation-activities-improves-thelearning-experience/):<br />

A recent JEMS publication by Aaron<br />

Dix, NRP, MBA, CHSE, NCEE, CP-C , Jennifer McCarthy, MAS,<br />

NRP, MICP, CHSE , and Andrew E. Spain, MA, NCEE, EMT-P<br />

entitled “Standardization of EMS <strong>Simulation</strong> Activities Improves<br />

the Learning Experience” concluded that “Standardization is<br />

an essential consideration for any simulation activity” and that<br />

“the level of standardization must be specifically chosen and<br />

incorporated into the design to ensure that each simulation is<br />

appropriate and useful.” Furthermore, the research found that<br />

“Standardization within simulation activities improves quality and<br />

the experience for learners [and] also enhances the efforts of<br />

proper simulation design, execution and debriefing making the<br />

effort of evidence-based practice worth it.”<br />

3. About Ambulance Simulators<br />

(https://www.healthysimulation.com/ambulance-simulator/):<br />

Providing EMS students and professionals with realistic<br />

training is crucial to their success in the field. By providing<br />

EMS learners with the opportunity to train in the most realistic<br />

way possible, clinical educators can reduce costs associated<br />

with medical errors while improving provider performance.<br />

Ambulance Simulators enable Emergency Medical Service (EMS)<br />

professionals to realistically train for the unique challenges<br />

of patient care within a confined and mobile space. Ranging<br />

from simple environmental wallpaper coverings for static sim<br />

lab rooms to fully immersive simulated ambulances on moving<br />

hydraulic presses with realistic lights and sirens, ambulance<br />

simulation has quickly become a key component in educating<br />

and training EMS providers.<br />

4. <strong>Simulation</strong> Technician Entry Level Job Description<br />

Downloadable Template<br />

(https://www.healthysimulation.com/18426/medicalsimulation-technician-job-description)<br />

A <strong>Simulation</strong> Technician/<br />

Technologist works in the field of healthcare simulation<br />

supporting the many technical aspects of medical simulation.<br />

Here, we take a look at the general entry level requirements of a<br />

Sim Tech position and provide a downloadable template for your<br />

program to use as a starting point. Additional articles related to<br />

6


FEATURE<br />

simulation staffing of Sim Techs and other positions can be found<br />

on our Medical <strong>Simulation</strong> Jobs page, including where to find<br />

Sim Techs, how to train them, and what to pay them!<br />

5. How Vassar College Built Their Own Ambulance Simulator<br />

(https://www.healthysimulation.com/16238/jems-covershow-vassar-college-built-their-own-ambulance-simulator/)<br />

Ambulance <strong>Simulation</strong> for EMS students is an important aspect<br />

of training that may be difficult to reproduce repeatedly. Not many<br />

programs have available access to a contemporary ambulance<br />

due to obvious cost or scheduled “active duty” cycles. Enter<br />

Vassar College who empowered an EMT student with set building<br />

experience to help build them their “Simbulance”, a confined but<br />

open air ambulance simulator design with attached viewing deck!<br />

The Simbulance project came about from the desire to provide a<br />

more realistic simulated experience—one that includes lifting and<br />

moving a patient to an ambulance, performing skills in the back of<br />

an ambulance, calling in reports to the hospital and, finally, taking<br />

the patient out of the ambulance and bringing them to the next<br />

point of care in the ED.<br />

Do not have space for<br />

traditional patient<br />

simulators?<br />

Try VERA, your<br />

standardised patient,<br />

a VR solution that<br />

allows patient<br />

communication via<br />

VR Headset, computer<br />

browser or mobile device.<br />

Looking to Attend a <strong>Simulation</strong><br />

Conference?<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> Champions across the UK should consider attending<br />

the annual Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH)<br />

event. Learn more at https://aspih.org.uk/<br />

Ask us for a demo<br />

www.simulaids.eu.com/vera<br />

info@simulaids.eu.com 01530 512425<br />

VERA – exclusively available in the UK from Simulaids Ltd<br />

WHY NOT WRITE FOR US?<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> <strong>Today</strong> welcomes the submission of clinical<br />

papers, case reports and articles that you<br />

feel will be of interest to your colleagues.<br />

The publication is mailed to all resuscitation, A&E and anaesthetic departments<br />

plus all intensive care, critical care, coronary care and cardiology units plus<br />

Universities and Schools of Midwifery that teach <strong>Simulation</strong>.<br />

All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via:<br />

info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

7


iSimulate - Train anywhere at any time<br />

with our flexible simulation systems.<br />

Used across the world for Nurse / Paramedic<br />

and Medical education<br />

www.iSimulate.com


FEATURE<br />

A SPACE TO THINK<br />

How can recent advances in cognitive load theory inform<br />

practice in simulation-based healthcare education?<br />

Dr Lewis Moore BSc MBBS PGCert; Student No. – 17834412<br />

Module – MDM148 Principles and Practice of <strong>Simulation</strong>.<br />

Introduction<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> is becoming a central modality in medical education with<br />

recent evidence of educational benefit and improved patient outcomes<br />

(1, 2). <strong>Simulation</strong> has traditionally taken its theoretical underpinning from<br />

experiential learning (3) and constructivism (4), but the last ten years<br />

have seen an explosion of publications attempting to use cognitive load<br />

theory to improve simulation-based education (SBE)(5-9).<br />

Cognitive Load Theory<br />

Cognitive load theory (CLT) is based on the neuropsychological<br />

observation that the human working memory is severely limited in both<br />

capacity and time (10, 11), and states that if its limits are exceeded,<br />

errors will be made and learning will be impaired (12). The long-term<br />

memory, however, is effectively unlimited, information in the long-term<br />

memory is stored in organised schema, and may be usefully accessed<br />

with only minimal cognitive effort. CLT attempts to minimise the risk of<br />

cognitive overload and maximise learning (13).<br />

CLT splits cognitive workload into three types; intrinsic load which is<br />

related to the complexity of the problem to be solved, extraneous load<br />

which distracts from the problem and wastes cognitive resources, and<br />

germane load (sometimes conceptualised as a sub-type of intrinsic<br />

load) which represents cognition used to organise or categorise<br />

information, and is thought to be a source of learning (14).<br />

Intrinsic load is seen as highest when a problem has a high degree<br />

of element interactivity, where many factors must be considered<br />

simultaneously to produce a ‘correct’ answer (think long multiplication<br />

or complex grammar). Medical care and procedures, simulated or<br />

otherwise, are such problems; learners must assess many body<br />

systems simultaneously using different modalities (history, examination,<br />

imaging, bloods) while communicating effectively with a patient and<br />

members of the team (5). The same is true in the simulation lab, and<br />

we must be mindful that complex tasks may leave minimal cognitive<br />

space for learning, and that small amounts of extraneous load may lead<br />

to cognitive overload, expressed as frustration and poor performance.<br />

The principles of CLT state that we should adjust the intrinsic load to<br />

be appropriate to the learner, while minimising the extraneous load and<br />

introducing or improving the germane load to maximise learning. This is<br />

demonstrated in Figure 1.<br />

Outline of this Essay<br />

This essay will initially explore the design principles that were taken<br />

from the wider education community and applied to medical education<br />

- more specifically, to SBE. It will then explore the science of measuring<br />

cognitive load (CL), the effect of emotion on CL, and finally will<br />

examine studies which have used CLT principles to design educational<br />

interventions and test their efficacy.<br />

Cognitive Load Theory in <strong>Simulation</strong>-Based<br />

Education<br />

Fraser et al. adapted the primary CLT literature (12) derived from the<br />

classroom setting in disciplines such as mathematics and engineering,<br />

and previous attempts to make CLT relevant to medical education (5)<br />

for use in medical SBE, making many practical recommendations (7) as<br />

explored below.<br />

Figure 1 – Graphical representation of cognitive limits and different<br />

states of optimisation. (Adapted from Sweller J, Van Merrienboer JJ,<br />

Paas FG. Cognitive architecture and instructional design. Educational<br />

psychology review. 1998;10(3):251-6)<br />

Minimising Extraneous Load<br />

Extraneous load (EL) is the enemy in CLT; neither relevant to the task<br />

at hand nor educationally useful, making its reduction a core goal in<br />

educational design. EL is primarily conceptualised as deriving from<br />

information that is presented to the learner sub-optimally, and the<br />

strategies for minimising EL therefore focus on this.<br />

The split attention effect is the observation that the requirement to<br />

obtain information from multiple sources simultaneously, and to usefully<br />

integrate these, produces more CL than if the information was in a single<br />

source. A large body of evidence in the CL literature outside medicine<br />

(15) demonstrates that if all information is presented in a single form or<br />

location, then learning is enhanced via reduction of extraneous load.<br />

Summarising all relevant information on a card would reduce CL but<br />

impair realism, clearly there is a balance to be struck depending on the<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

9


FEATURE<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

expertise of the learner and the desired realism of the scenario. With this<br />

principle in mind, educators can make this a conscious choice and even<br />

produce different versions of the same scenario with different levels of<br />

realism and visuospatial cognitive demand.<br />

Contrary to this, the expertise reversal effect (14) describes how the<br />

opposite may be true for expert learners who may feel alienated if they<br />

are given physiological data written down, and cannot see, for instance,<br />

individual waveforms on the monitor which they may usually rely on.<br />

The worked example effect suggests that being shown how to complete<br />

a task carries more educational value, or is at least much more efficient<br />

than solving the problem independently(16). In simulation this is<br />

conceptualised in several ways; for instance a skilled assistant may<br />

interpret blood gas or ultrasound images. If these skills are not explicit<br />

learning objectives and cannot be performed ‘automatically’ by the<br />

learner, then they can reasonably be outsourced to help prevent overload.<br />

Another implementation of this principle would be to allow learners<br />

to retry a scenario they had struggled with after some reflection and<br />

feedback (17). This mirrors Kolb’s experiential learning (3) cycling<br />

between action and reflection.<br />

Adjusting Intrinsic Load<br />

As learners gain expertise, they develop schemas allowing them to<br />

organise and simplify information, making a task such as assessing<br />

a patient with chest pain daunting or difficult (high intrinsic CL) for<br />

a medical student but very simple (minimal intrinsic CL) for even a<br />

relatively-junior paramedic or emergency medicine physician. Because<br />

of this, we must carefully design tasks to ensure that the intrinsic load is<br />

are neither inherently too complex nor too mundane for the learner, as<br />

this would impair learning.<br />

The pretraining effect (18) encourages that we prepare students<br />

adequately for a simulated experience; showing them the monitoring<br />

equipment, where they might find pulses on the Laedral SimMan 3G,<br />

the location of drugs and equipment, and the format in which they can<br />

expect briefing and assistance. Providing this information will prevent<br />

these otherwise small questions from building into an overwhelming fog<br />

of uncertainty.<br />

Germane Load<br />

Reduction and optimisation of other forms of CL theoretically allow us<br />

to leave some of the learner’s working memory to learn or to structure<br />

the task (19). Some suggestions regarding how this can be done are<br />

to introduce structural assessments like ABCDE, 4 H’s and 4T’s or to<br />

ask the learner to explain their thought process as they go along. While<br />

adding another simultaneous task will necessarily improve cognitive<br />

workload, this approach is thought to guide the learner towards the<br />

most important ideas and information, and improve outcomes. If the<br />

learner asks themselves these questions in a similar ‘real-life’ situation,<br />

their outcomes should theoretically be better.<br />

What Does it Add?<br />

As a purveyor, organiser and consumer of medical education on<br />

nearly a daily basis, the author has become increasingly aware of<br />

the prevalence of disparity between the difficulty of an educational<br />

intervention and the needs and abilities of the learners. While it may<br />

seem like common sense to teach at the right level of detail, this<br />

is often not the case, or is made very challenging by large gaps in<br />

seniority between the learner and educator (and therefore assumed<br />

knowledge) or by the wide range of ability in a cohort of learners. The<br />

above principles allow or indeed encourage simulationists and other<br />

educators to identify the needs and abilities of the learner, and adjust<br />

the intervention accordingly. They may help us not to deliver SBE badly,<br />

but can they lead us to excellence? While these tools may be useful for<br />

some, they seem undeserving of the hype that CLT has generated in the<br />

recent years.<br />

A summary of CLT-based recommendations for SBE can be found in<br />

Appendix 1.<br />

Measuring Cognitive Load<br />

The scientific method suggests that if CL indeed exists, then there<br />

should be a way to measure it (20) and observe its effects. Only if CL<br />

can be measured reliably can we draw meaningful conclusions about<br />

its effects.<br />

How is CL Measured?<br />

As a cognitive phenomenon, the obvious method to measure CL is<br />

self-reporting. Paas (21) pioneered this in the educational psychology<br />

domain and his validated CL scale (1 – very very low to 9 – very<br />

very high) is widely used in medical education. NASA created their<br />

own tool, NASA-TLX, for assessing mental workload (22), which is a<br />

distinct concept but widely thought to be analogous to cognitive load.<br />

Problems associated with self-reporting include the intrusive nature<br />

of the sampling, the disruptive nature of pausing a task for a learner<br />

to complete a questionnaire (itself adding to CL), or the reporting<br />

happening after the exercise, introducing recall bias. CL is sometimes<br />

inferred from surrogate physiological measurements such as heart<br />

rate (23), EEG (24) or pupillary tracking or dilation (25). Physiological<br />

measurements give little indication as to absolute CL, but indicate<br />

fluctuations over time (8). The final way that CL is measured is by asking<br />

learners to perform a secondary task alongside the main intervention,<br />

such as pressing a button when a vibrating stimulus is applied to<br />

their arm (26). The response time (or other performance measure) is<br />

hypothesised to indicate the CL engaged in the primary task.<br />

Validity of CL Measurements<br />

Naismith and Cavalcanti produced a systematic review (8) of the SBE<br />

literature correlating cognitive load measurements and educational<br />

outcomes or task performance. Included studies were rated out of 5<br />

for the validity of their measurement techniques, using a tool previously<br />

created by Cook et al. (27). Of the 35 studies compared across all<br />

domains, 6 showed that higher cognitive load was associated with<br />

better learning or performance outcomes (positive association), 8<br />

showed a negative association and 14 were neutral. In the studies from<br />

the medical education literature, there were no studies with positive<br />

association, 5 negative, and 7 neutral. The studies showing negative<br />

association between CL and performance came from studies with a<br />

higher mean validity score (See Figure 2).<br />

The overarching message of this review is that the scientific community<br />

does not have an agreed- upon standard for how to measure cognitive<br />

10


FEATURE<br />

load. Many studies modify the Paas or NASA-TLX instruments, or create<br />

their own with little or no attempt to validate them before using them<br />

to draw conclusions. Physiology or even observer rating is also used<br />

without any solid evidence of validity. The literature does not compare<br />

‘like with like’ and therefore, the heterogeneity of these results is<br />

unsurprising.<br />

CL as Meta-Examination<br />

Aldekhyl et al. (28) used an ultrasound-based simulation to assess<br />

sonographic competence of 29 clinicians of varying seniority. CL<br />

was approximated by tracking eye movements while the participants<br />

attempted to obtain suitable images. It was found that higher gaze-shift<br />

rate, indicating higher cognitive load was negatively associated with<br />

performance. The more experienced clinicians, having consolidated<br />

their knowledge, find it easier to obtain the images, and therefore CL<br />

is low, whereas those with less experience can perform the task, but at<br />

greater cognitive expense. This observation is profoundly striking as it<br />

opens a new door for assessment of clinical competence; we would<br />

clearly prefer to employ an anaesthetist who could calmly complete a<br />

crossword while delivering a safe anaesthetic than one who nervously<br />

watched the monitor throughout. This does however seem somewhat<br />

perverse and intrusive; as a profession, we are used to being assessed<br />

and examined, but wearing a heart rate monitor and eye-tracking<br />

equipment during a clinical station would seem very dystopian at a job<br />

interview.<br />

Summary<br />

The ability to reliably measure a variable is a prerequisite to<br />

understanding its importance. It has been demonstrated that while<br />

many studies have purportedly measured ‘cognitive load’ they have<br />

measured a wide variety of different things. A consensus on how CL is<br />

to be measured, and its experimental validation, must be made a priority<br />

by the research community for the quality of evidence to improve.<br />

Emotion and Cognitive Load<br />

Cognitive load theorists have attempted to integrate emotion into CLT,<br />

with emotion being classified as intrinsic load in, for instance, a breaking<br />

bad news scenario (7), and extrinsic when general ‘stress’ appears to<br />

shrink the size of the usable working memory (31).<br />

In an observational study, Fraser et al. asked 84 undergraduate<br />

medical students to rate their emotional state and cognitive load in<br />

an SBE scenario (32), finding that students with a higher perceived ‘<br />

invigoration’ also experienced higher CL, and were significantly less<br />

likely to correctly identify clinical signs (regression coefficient 0.63, 95%<br />

CI 0.28–0.99; p = 0.001).<br />

The same authors decided to use CLT to attempt to answer an ongoing<br />

debate in SBE: should the mannikin die during sim scenarios (33)?<br />

While death of the mannikin is necessary for practicing cardiac arrest<br />

management, it is sometimes used as feedback for poor performance,<br />

and while some see this as highly realistic and motivating feedback,<br />

others feel that it is a potentially damaging violation of the safe learning<br />

environment that simulation attempts to provide (34). The study in<br />

question (35) used a randomised controlled trial to assess the effect<br />

of unexpected manikin death on emotion, cognitive load, and distant<br />

learning outcomes. 112 undergraduate medical students undertook a<br />

simulation scenario involving salicylate poisoning. They were randomly<br />

assigned to 2 groups whose scenarios differed only in the last 3<br />

minutes; one group with a good patient outcome and the second with<br />

sudden deterioration and death. The students’ self-rated emotions were<br />

significantly poorer and subjective cognitive load significantly higher<br />

in the unexpected death cohort (see Figure 3). Three months after<br />

the simulation, the students faced the same scenario in a summative<br />

objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Those that were in<br />

the mannikin death group were significantly less likely (70.9% vs 86.9%:<br />

OR of 0.37, 95% CI, 0.14-0.95; P = 0.04) to be rated as competent by<br />

the examiner and pass the station (see Figure 3). While it may seem<br />

appropriate for some for the mannikin to die, this study gives strong<br />

evidence to support the view that the emotional impact of this outcome<br />

will impair learning, and therefore should not be routinely used in<br />

simulation practice.<br />

In the broader psychological literature, the relationship between emotion<br />

and learning has been studied extensively, and certain principles are<br />

held to be true. Positive emotions can stimulate motivation, enhance<br />

creativity, and improve learning outcomes (7, 29), while negative<br />

emotions affect learning unpredictably, sometimes acting to heighten<br />

the relevance and therefore recall of a memory, and other times thought<br />

to overwhelm the ability to learn (30).<br />

Figure 2 – The studies that identify a negative relationship between<br />

cognitive load and learning outcomes used, on average, the more valid<br />

measurement tools. (Taken from Naismith LM, Cavalcanti RB. Validity<br />

of cognitive load measures in simulation-based training: a systematic<br />

review. Academic Medicine. 2015;90(11):S24-S35)<br />

Cognitive Load in Practice<br />

Educational Intervention Designed using CLT Principles<br />

Andersen et al. tested CLT-based design in a small randomised<br />

controlled trial to teach surgical skills in a virtual reality (VR) simulation<br />

(36). Eighteen medical students underwent an hour of training in<br />

performing mastoidectomy on a freely available VR training package<br />

(See Figure 4).<br />

Half trained using traditional instructions, and half trained using CLTdesigned<br />

instructions, comprised of worked examples and partially<br />

completed procedures. Students were then assessed by expert<br />

examiners for competence in performing this procedure. Students who<br />

studied worked examples reported higher CL (52% vs 41%, p = 0.02),<br />

and performed less well in examination (13.0 vs 15.4, p < 0.005) than<br />

those studying with traditional instructions.<br />

This study adds to the evidence that higher cognitive load impairs<br />

learning. The study detracts, however, from the suggestion that worked<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

11


FEATURE<br />

Figure 3<br />

examples provide lower CL and improved outcomes. It is important not<br />

to draw too many conclusions from a small study, and to appreciate<br />

that there are many factors involved in cognitive load and learning<br />

outcomes. Perhaps the worked examples were difficult to navigate in<br />

the software interface, or perhaps there were too many sections to get<br />

through in the allotted hour? The study highlights the use of including<br />

CL analysis when assessing the usefulness of a training intervention.<br />

CL Analysis of Other SBE Interventions<br />

Other authors have used CL solely as an adjunct in their analysis of<br />

an education intervention. Dankbaar et al. tested a computer-based<br />

simulation game against other interventions for the acquisition of<br />

emergency care and resuscitation skills (37). All 61 students were<br />

trained using an e- learning module and were then randomised into<br />

three groups to receive either a) no further training, b) 2 hours of paperbased<br />

practice cases, or c) 2 hours of computer-based simulation,<br />

and were later tested in a manikin-based simulation. The clinical<br />

competence of control, paper, and simulation groups were scored<br />

at 7.5, 7.9 and 7.2 respectively (p= 0.12); adding a further 2 hours<br />

of different forms of study did not significantly improve the students’<br />

resuscitation skills, and cognitive load was not reported significantly<br />

differently between the groups.<br />

The author included a CL questionnaire as part of the analysis;<br />

interestingly, the questionnaire has subsections for intrinsic cognitive<br />

load (‘’the content of the e-module was very complex’’), extraneous<br />

cognitive load (‘’the explanations were very unclear’’), and germane<br />

cognitive load (“the e-module really enhanced my understanding of the<br />

problems that were discussed’’). The author cited Paas (38) and stated<br />

that the scale was previously validated, but appears to have missed<br />

the point entirely: the cited article makes no reference to the ability of<br />

learners to be able to self-assess subtypes of CL, and the questions<br />

indicate a general misunderstanding of CL theory. As discussed in the<br />

section on measurement of CL, authors appear unaware of the need to<br />

use validated instruments, and feel it appropriate to modify or design<br />

their own questionnaires without any validation. Aside from this, it seems<br />

highly appropriate to use CL measurements as part of the assessment<br />

of simulation or other interventions in medical education. If learning<br />

outcomes are poor, then cognitive overload is one possible explanation,<br />

and should be easily picked up on a post-course questionnaire.<br />

Conclusion<br />

There has been a large amount of publication activity concerning CLT<br />

in the SBE literature in the last 5 years. The initial recommendations<br />

from the wider literature have been adapted and applied practically<br />

to healthcare SBE to some effect. While there have been some efforts<br />

to standardise measurement of CL, authors often design their own<br />

unvalidated instruments, which is a clear weakness of the current body<br />

of literature, requiring further research. CLT can help us to understand<br />

certain specific questions in simulation practice (Should we allow<br />

manikins to die?) and may provide an intermediary for the link between<br />

emotion and educational attainment. CLT is not panacea for educational<br />

design, but is a tool that can help us to avoid cognitive overload, which<br />

is one of several potential reasons for poor outcomes from educational<br />

interventions.<br />

References<br />

1. Cook DA, Hatala R, Brydges R, Zendejas B, Szostek JH, Wang<br />

AT, et al. Technology-enhanced simulation for health professions<br />

education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Jama.<br />

2011;306(9):978-88.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

Figure 4 – A virtual reality training software for performing mastoidectomy.<br />

(Taken from Andersen SAW, Mikkelsen PT, Konge L, Cayé-Thomasen P,<br />

Sørensen MS. The effect of implementing cognitive load theory-based<br />

design principles in virtual reality simulation training of surgical skills: a<br />

randomized controlled trial. Advances in <strong>Simulation</strong>. 2016;1(1):20)<br />

2. McGaghie WC, Issenberg SB, Barsuk JH, Wayne DB. A critical<br />

review of simulation-based mastery learning with translational<br />

outcomes. Medical education. 2014;48(4):375-85.<br />

3. Kolb D. Experiential learning as the science of learning and<br />

development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1984.<br />

4. Yoders S. Constructivism Theory and Use from 21 st Century<br />

Perspective. Journal of Applied Learning Technology. 2014;4(3).<br />

5. Van Merriënboer JJ, Sweller J. Cognitive load theory in health<br />

professional education: design principles and strategies. Medical<br />

education. 2010;44(1):85-93.<br />

6. Young JQ, Van Merrienboer J, Durning S, Ten Cate O. Cognitive<br />

load theory: Implications for medical education: AMEE guide no.<br />

86. Medical teacher. 2014;36(5):371-84.<br />

12


FEATURE<br />

7. Fraser KL, Ayres P, Sweller J. Cognitive load theory for the design of<br />

medical simulations. <strong>Simulation</strong> in Healthcare. 2015;10(5):295-307.<br />

8. Naismith LM, Cavalcanti RB. Validity of cognitive load measures<br />

in simulation-based training: a systematic review. Academic<br />

Medicine. 2015;90(11):S24-S35.<br />

9. Cao CG, Zhou M, Jones DB, Schwaitzberg SD. Can surgeons<br />

think and operate with haptics at the same time? Journal of<br />

Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2007;11(11):1564-9.<br />

10. Miller GA. The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some<br />

limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychological<br />

review. 1956;63(2):81.<br />

11. Peterson L, Peterson MJ. Short-term retention of individual verbal<br />

items. Journal of experimental psychology. 1959;58(3):193.<br />

12. Sweller J. Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on<br />

learning. Cognitive science. 1988;12(2):257-85.<br />

13. Sweller J. Cognitive load theory. Psychology of learning and<br />

motivation. 55: Elsevier; 2011. p. 37-76.<br />

14. Kalyuga S. Cognitive load theory: How many types of load does it<br />

really need? Educational Psychology Review. 2011;23(1):1-19.<br />

15. Ginns P. Integrating information: A meta-analysis of the spatial<br />

contiguity and temporal contiguity effects. Learning and<br />

Instruction. 2006;16(6):511-25.<br />

16. Clark RC, Nguyen F, Sweller J. Efficiency in learning: Evidence-based<br />

guidelines to manage cognitive load: John Wiley & Sons; 2011.<br />

17. Zigmont JJ, Kappus LJ, Sudikoff SN, editors. Theoretical<br />

foundations of learning through simulation. Seminars in<br />

perinatology; 2011: Elsevier.<br />

18. Mayer RE, Moreno R. Nine ways to reduce cognitive load in<br />

multimedia learning. Educational psychologist. 2003;38(1):43-52.<br />

19. Paas F, Van Gog T. Optimising worked example instruction:<br />

Different ways to increase germane cognitive load. Elsevier; 2006.<br />

20. Horton M. In defence of Francis Bacon: A criticism of the critics<br />

of the inductive method. Studies in History and Philosophy of<br />

Science Part A. 1973;4(3):241-78.<br />

training. Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC),<br />

2012 Annual International Conference of the IEEE; 2012: IEEE.<br />

25. Reiner M, Gelfeld TM. Estimating mental workload through eventrelated<br />

fluctuations of pupil area during a task in a virtual world.<br />

International Journal of Psychophysiology. 2014;93(1):38- 44.<br />

26. Davis D, Oliver M, Byrne A. A novel method of measuring the<br />

mental workload of anaesthetists during simulated practice. British<br />

journal of anaesthesia. 2009;103(5):665-9.<br />

27. Cook DA, Zendejas B, Hamstra SJ, Hatala R, Brydges R. What<br />

counts as validity evidence? Examples and prevalence in a<br />

systematic review of simulation-based assessment. Advances in<br />

Health Sciences Education. 2014;19(2):233-50.<br />

28. Aldekhyl S, Cavalcanti RB, Naismith LM. Cognitive load predicts<br />

point-of-care ultrasound simulator performance. Perspectives on<br />

medical education. 2018;7(1):23-32.<br />

29. Bower GH, Forgas JP. Mood and social memory. 2001.<br />

30. Pekrun R. The impact of emotions on learning and achievement:<br />

Towards a theory of cognitive/motivational mediators. Applied<br />

Psychology. 1992;41(4):359-76.<br />

31. Beilock SL, Kulp CA, Holt LE, Carr TH. More on the fragility<br />

of performance: choking under pressure in mathematical<br />

problem solving. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.<br />

2004;133(4):584.<br />

32. Fraser K, Ma I, Teteris E, Baxter H, Wright B, McLaughlin K.<br />

Emotion, cognitive load and learning outcomes during simulation<br />

training. Medical education. 2012;46(11):1055-62.<br />

33. Corvetto MA, Taekman JM. To die or not to die? A review of<br />

simulated death. <strong>Simulation</strong> in Healthcare. 2013;8(1):8-12.<br />

34. Rudolph JW, Raemer DB, Simon R. Establishing a safe container<br />

for learning in simulation: the role of the presimulation briefing.<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> in Healthcare. 2014;9(6):339-49.<br />

35. Fraser K, Huffman J, Ma I, Sobczak M, McIlwrick J, Wright<br />

B, et al. The emotional and cognitive impact of unexpected<br />

simulated patient death: a randomized controlled trial. Chest.<br />

2014;145(5):958-63.<br />

21. Paas FG. Training strategies for attaining transfer of problemsolving<br />

skill in statistics: A cognitive-load approach. Journal of<br />

educational psychology. 1992;84(4):429.<br />

22. Hart SG, Staveland LE. Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load<br />

Index): Results of empirical and theoretical research. Advances in<br />

psychology. 52: Elsevier; 1988. p. 139-83.<br />

23. Yuviler-Gavish N, Yechiam E, Kallai A. Learning in multimodal<br />

training: Visual guidance can be both appealing and<br />

disadvantageous in spatial tasks. International journal of humancomputer<br />

studies. 2011;69(3):113-22.<br />

24. Soussou W, Rooksby M, Forty C, Weatherhead J, Marshall S,<br />

editors. EEG and eye-tracking based measures for enhanced<br />

36. Andersen SAW, Mikkelsen PT, Konge L, Cayé-Thomasen P,<br />

Sørensen MS. The effect of implementing cognitive load theorybased<br />

design principles in virtual reality simulation training<br />

of surgical skills: a randomized controlled trial. Advances in<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong>. 2016;1(1):20.<br />

37. Dankbaar ME, Alsma J, Jansen EE, van Merrienboer JJ, van<br />

Saase JL, Schuit SC. An experimental study on the effects<br />

of a simulation game on students’ clinical cognitive skills<br />

and motivation. Advances in Health Sciences Education.<br />

2016;21(3):505-21.<br />

38. Paas F, Tuovinen JE, Tabbers H, Van Gerven PW. Cognitive load<br />

measurement as a means to advance cognitive load theory.<br />

Educational psychologist. 2003;38(1):63-71.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

13


FEATURE<br />

Appendix 1 – Summary of CLT Principles for SBE Design<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

(Taken from Fraser KL, Ayres P, Sweller J. Cognitive load theory for the design of medical simulations. <strong>Simulation</strong> in Healthcare. 2015;10(5):295-307.)<br />

14


FEATURE<br />

NOTIONS OF REALITY IN<br />

SIMULATION TRAINING<br />

Mike Davis PhD MEd DASE Cert Ed FAcadMEd<br />

Freelance consultant in continuing medical education, Blackpool UK<br />

Introduction<br />

Have you ever felt emotional about a seriously ill or traumatised<br />

patient, especially when you thought that you or your team were not<br />

managing as well as you might? Have you, on the death of the patient<br />

– maybe a 2 year old caught up in something totally unexpected and<br />

suddenly deteriorating in spite of you all doing everything you can – felt<br />

distressed, tearful, ashamed, that you were not able to save a life?<br />

I saw this happen in a large-scale simulation event (Davis et al 2008)<br />

conducted as part of preparation for deployment to the British military<br />

hospital in Afghanistan. A mannikin 2-year old with multiple blast injuries<br />

died under the care of a paediatric trauma specialist and her team.<br />

You might wonder why that would happen. Or you may have<br />

experienced that sense of reality that can emerge from a wellconstructed<br />

and presented simulation. This paper intends to explore<br />

why a plastic dummy can generate those responses, by exploring the<br />

nature of reality that a simulation can create.<br />

Aspects of reality<br />

The question we need to address is: to what extent does the physical<br />

reality contribute significantly to the simulated experience? For the<br />

military, this is an important component, but only accounts for 2 of the<br />

9 criteria for judging the potential impact of the HOSPEX simulation<br />

environment.<br />

Sociological reality<br />

The vast majority of professional life is conducted in multi-professional<br />

teams but simulation can become somewhat of a silo-endorsing<br />

activity by virtue of its success and subsequent adoption as part<br />

of undergraduate and postgraduate study in single professional<br />

groups. It is not uncommon, therefore, to find groups of, say medical<br />

or paramedic students fulfilling multiple roles in the management of<br />

a clinical case in a sim suite. Sociological reality is more likely to be<br />

manifested in in situ simulations, where HCPs experience a clinical case<br />

in their own, multi-disciplinary environment.<br />

Sociological reality in simulation is a product of deliberate efforts to<br />

ensure that people experiencing the event are doing so by playing<br />

themselves in role, and that the roles reflects the variety of contribution<br />

to that event. This serves the purpose of reinforcing the nature of the<br />

role and keeps participants in their comfort zone, by virtue of the fact<br />

that they are either:<br />

There is widespread acceptance that there are three types of reality that<br />

we experience in the simulated environment:<br />

playing themselves in a familiar situation (i.e. one designed to reinforce<br />

good practice and support others’ learning<br />

• physical<br />

• sociological, and<br />

• psychological<br />

and I am going to explore these in turn and then examine the ways in<br />

which they can combine to recreate what we loosely call “real life”.<br />

Physical reality<br />

There are increasingly sophisticated attempt to replicate a human being<br />

by virtue not only of the appearance, but also of the ways in which that<br />

can be enhanced by the manifestation of appropriate clinical features:<br />

sounds, discharges, words etc. Mannekins range in sophistication from<br />

simple plastic dolls with limited capacity for movement and no sounds,<br />

to chillingly realistic representations of human life, like the recent release<br />

of the geriatric patient by Simulaids, described in their literature as<br />

having:<br />

“realistic patient positioning, flexibility and superior range of motion<br />

[… capable of simulating] over 35 nursing and medical procedures”<br />

(simulaids.eu.com; [accessed 5th July <strong>2019</strong>])<br />

or<br />

playing themselves in an unfamiliar situation (i.e. but one that they could<br />

reasonably be expected to face)<br />

In either case, the sociological reality reinforces the team nature and<br />

the multiple responsibilities within the simulated case being managed,<br />

thereby making the simulation more life-like.<br />

Psychological reality<br />

This is a bi-product of every aspect of the way in which simulation is<br />

created and has been neatly summarised by GP and medical educator<br />

Lizzie Norris as “a busy brain”. Interestingly, it is just as likely to arise<br />

from an almost equipment free, small group simulation as it is from<br />

something taking place with the most sophisticated simulation suite.<br />

Among the early ambitions of the designers of the European Trauma<br />

Course (ETC), for example, was the capacity to arrive in a setting<br />

with minimal equipment and personnel and still teach a team-based<br />

approach to trauma management, by virtue of creating an intellectual<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

15


FEATURE<br />

and emotional environment within which participants could explore their<br />

competence at their limits of prior experience.<br />

While physical and sociological reality arise from the environment and<br />

the invited participants, psychological reality is the product of the nature<br />

of the experience as it unfolds and this depends significantly on the<br />

extent to which information flow is realistic and timely.<br />

Information flow<br />

Information flow is the shorthand depiction of all of the sensory data that<br />

arise from a clinical case. In the case of the human patient being treated<br />

in resus, for example, this would be all of the information that is evident<br />

from receiving the patient, taking an SBAR handover from paramedics,<br />

to the outcomes of investigations arising from an A to E primary survey.<br />

This would include what the patient says (if they are talking), as well as<br />

any visual signs (bleeding, etc) and the results of any interventions like<br />

blood test results, CT scans, X` rays.<br />

The key difference between the mannikin and a patient is that in the<br />

former case, the facilitator of the simulation has to provide timely<br />

feedback as to the features that would emerge from a human patient.<br />

This might emerge, in a sophisticated mannikin as a consequence of a<br />

technical intervention; in a basic mannikin, it would be announced in a<br />

timely way by the facilitator. The key ingredient here is “timely”, providing<br />

the lead clinician running the scenario with information that was a<br />

product of the leader’s interventions, e.g.<br />

responsible for developing language skills in teenage pupils. We were<br />

looking for ways to develop linguistic competence in pupils by engaging<br />

them in challenging linguistic environments and we came across an<br />

activity called “Bafa Bafa”, which involved learners exploring significant<br />

cultural diversity. While BafaBafa created a fictional world, it was one<br />

that was negotiated using complex linguistic skills that students,<br />

functioning slightly beyond their comfort zones, had to negotiate, both<br />

in the activity of the game itself, but also in the debrief that followed.<br />

Those pupils demonstrated amazing commitment to being an Alpha or<br />

a Beta and subjected their experience in those roles to critical scrutiny in<br />

the debrief that followed. Their confidence and competence in a range<br />

of complex linguistic skills flourished as they lived out the reality that the<br />

game demanded of them. That reality, however, had no equipment and<br />

the sociological reality was the “real” reality of their community. The buy<br />

in, however, was the product of “the busy brain”.<br />

References<br />

Davis M, Driscoll P, Hanson J, Wieteska S (2008), The Advanced Life<br />

Support Group’s View of HOSPEX. JR Army Med Corps 154(3): 206-208<br />

Dr Mike Davis is a freelance consultant in continuing medical education<br />

based in Blackpool. He works predominantly in the life support<br />

community and has educator roles with Generic Instructor Course<br />

(ALGS/RC(UK)), ATLS and ETC.<br />

He is one of the authors (with Jacky Hanson, Mike Dickinson,<br />

Lorna Lees and Mark Pimblett) of “How to teach using simulation in<br />

healthcare”, published by Wiley-Blackwell in 2017.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

Team leader: (to circulation team member) Could you take the blood<br />

pressure, please?<br />

Circulation: (putting on and inflating cuff)<br />

Facilitator (after appropriate pause): It’s 90 over 40.<br />

etc<br />

The key issue in offering a simulation in this way is that learners<br />

managing the clinical case are expected to undertake tasks in an<br />

appropriate sequence, taking an appropriate amount of time, and<br />

eliciting (in a low fidelity setting), appropriate clinical signs from the<br />

facilitator of the event, or, in a more sophisticated environment, picking<br />

up those signs from the mannikin or a monitor.<br />

Integrating realities<br />

Whatever is offered in terms of physical and sociological reality, the<br />

success or otherwise of a simulation is dependent on the extent to<br />

which the learners engage in the psychological reality of the simulation:<br />

they enter into what the 19th century poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge,<br />

called “the willing suspension of disbelief”. This psychological state<br />

capitalising to a greater or lesser extent on the physical and social<br />

manifestations of the simulation, lays the foundations for the buy-in: it is<br />

real because it feels real and there is sufficient demand being made on<br />

the participants’ minds that they have sufficient but not overwhelming<br />

cognitive load for them to maintain their focus on the unfolding story<br />

instead of thinking “This is a plastic mannikin”.<br />

I first got involved in simulation training as an English teacher<br />

HELLO, MY<br />

NAME IS<br />

I am the<br />

first Patient<br />

Communication<br />

Simulator (PCS).<br />

Ask us for a demo<br />

www.simulaids.eu.com/alex<br />

info@simulaids.eu.com 01530 512425<br />

ALEX – exclusively available in the UK from Simulaids Ltd<br />

16


FEATURE<br />

FOCUSED NURSE-DEFIBRILLATION TRAINING:<br />

A SIMPLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO IMPROVE<br />

SURVIVAL FROM IN-HOSPITAL CARDIAC ARREST<br />

John A Stewart<br />

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2010 18:42 https://doi:10.1186/1757-7241-18-42 © 2010 Stewart<br />

Reproduced with permission from the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine<br />

Abstract<br />

Time to first defibrillation is widely accepted to correlate closely with<br />

survival and recovery of neurological function after cardiac arrest due<br />

to ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Focused training of<br />

a cadre of nurses to defibrillate on their own initiative may significantly<br />

decrease time to first defibrillation in cases of in-hospital cardiac arrest<br />

outside of critical care units. Such a program may be the best single<br />

strategy to improve in-hospital survival, simply and at reasonable cost.<br />

Introduction<br />

Survival from in-hospital cardiac arrest has not improved over the halfcentury<br />

since the advent of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)<br />

and defibrillation [1,2]. Survival rates remain about 18% at best, and<br />

survival is lower on general units than in critical-care areas [3].<br />

Explanations for this lack of progress often invoke co-morbidity, [2]<br />

and proposals for change have frequently focused on preventing<br />

presumably futile resuscitation attempts by means of do-not-resuscitate<br />

orders [4]. Medical emergency teams have increasingly been<br />

implemented to respond to early signs of deterioration and prevent<br />

progression to cardiac arrest [5]. But tachyarrythmic arrests (ventricular<br />

fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT)) are typically sudden,<br />

and this subset of arrests comprises the cases with a real chance of<br />

survival--if defibrillation is accomplished quickly. The most important<br />

change in out-of-hospital resuscitation over the past quarter-century has<br />

been the renewed focus on early defibrillation by first responders, and<br />

the best approach to improving in-hospital survival may be simply to<br />

bring effective early defibrillation into the hospital [6].<br />

Organizing and delivering the full range of advanced cardiovascular life<br />

support (ACLS) treatments with code teams is an expensive, complex,<br />

and daunting undertaking [7] that has little relation to outcomes--<br />

because survival for presenting rhythms other than VF and VT is dismal,<br />

both outside and inside the hospital. A program focused on saving lives<br />

would look much different: it would devote resources to treatments with<br />

proven effectiveness (primarily early defibrillation), up to the point of<br />

clearly diminishing returns. To improve survival from in-hospital arrests,<br />

a more effective approach to in-hospital defibrillation is needed.<br />

Discussion<br />

A defibrillator originally was a large and cumbersome device which had<br />

to be moved from the critical care unit to arrests in other areas of the<br />

hospital. Trained emergency personnel were usually at the scene of<br />

an arrest by the time the defibrillator arrived. During the 1970s and<br />

1980s there was a trend toward greater numbers of more portable<br />

defibrillators in hospitals, and a defibrillator on every nursing unit is<br />

now the norm. But training did not keep pace with availability: In the<br />

mid-1980s this author brought the problem of delayed in-hospital<br />

defibrillation to the attention of several people active in the American<br />

Heart Association’s (AHA) Emergency Cardiac Care programs, and in<br />

1992 published a description of a nurse-defibrillation training program<br />

using manual defibrillators [8]. Later, those AHA-affiliated authors<br />

began addressing the issue but linked nurse defibrillation closely with<br />

the purchase and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)<br />

[9]. The American Heart Association/International Liaison Committee<br />

on Resuscitation’s stance continues to be that AEDs are the key to<br />

achieving early defibrillation in hospitals [10].<br />

The AHA’s promotion of AEDs for in-hospital use is not well supported<br />

by present evidence [11]. A large recent study from Detroit, the best to<br />

date, showed no improvement in time to defibrillation or survival after<br />

hospital-wide introduction of AED-capable defibrillators, at a cost of<br />

$2 million [12]. In addition, serious concerns have been raised about<br />

AED technology in the past few years, centering on the requirement<br />

for a “hands-off” period for rhythm analysis that has been shown to<br />

decrease survival [6].<br />

Inaccurate time data presents another impediment to implementation<br />

of nurse-defibrillation programs because the true extent of the<br />

delayed-defibrillation problem is obscured. Studies based on data<br />

from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (NRCPR)<br />

report median times of 0 minutes [1]. These time intervals, based<br />

on handwritten code records, are unrealistically short [13]. NRCPR<br />

researchers have recognized this, [14] but inaccurate time data<br />

continue to be reported with little or no reservation [15]--though the<br />

problem could be solved fairly simply [16].<br />

Several factors, then-limitations of AED technology, unrealistically short<br />

time-interval data, and of course cost [13]--serve to impede hospitals<br />

in addressing the problem of delayed defibrillation. A recent article<br />

provided some counterbalance to these factors: the investigators<br />

reported that delayed in-hospital defibrillation was a relatively frequent<br />

problem and that it lowered survival, although again the extent of<br />

the problem was obscured by use of NRCPR data [17]. (A main<br />

recommendation in the accompanying editorial was to buy more AEDs<br />

[18].)<br />

In recent years, there has been much interest in the 3-phase model of<br />

VF arrest proposed by Weisfeldt and Becker, which posits that after<br />

about 4 minutes treatment may be improved by a period of basic CPR<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

Correspondence: jastewart325@gmail.com<br />

17


FEATURE<br />

before defibrillation [19]. The model has no relevance for in-hospital<br />

defibrillation because 1) the goal should be to defibrillate in less<br />

than 4 minutes (the AHA has established a benchmark of less than 3<br />

minutes for all in-hospital arrests [20]), and 2) with multiple rescuers<br />

typically available, all hospital protocols call for basic CPR while the<br />

defibrillator is being brought to the scene. Therefore, defibrillation<br />

at the earliest possible moment remains the best approach for inhospital<br />

tachyarrythmic arrests.<br />

Doing anything in the first moments of a code is emotionally<br />

difficult, but defibrillation is no more difficult than other tasks<br />

nurses are expected to perform in codes; certainly it is easier than<br />

performing effective basic CPR. The main rationale for AED use--<br />

the presumed need for advanced rhythm identification skills with<br />

manual defibrillators--is without foundation: the basic distinction,<br />

between an organized monitor rhythm and a chaotic pattern, is easily<br />

learned [21]. Another barrier to rapid defibrillation is the presumed<br />

danger to caregivers in administering a shock. However, dangers<br />

of defibrillation have long been overstated (no documented deaths<br />

or serious injuries in over 50 years) and safety has been further<br />

improved by the use of hands-free pads [22]. The basic procedure of<br />

defibrillation, whether with manual defibrillators or AEDs, is both easy<br />

and safe.<br />

In-hospital defibrillation training programs will have the capability to<br />

conduct unannounced drills for practice and performance testing.<br />

Many hospitals use “mock codes” to practice all aspects of code<br />

response; these are fairly complex productions involving a good<br />

deal of planning and disruption of daily work routines. Drills for<br />

defibrillation training can be conducted much more simply--one<br />

learner at a time--and preserve the element of unexpectedness<br />

that is a critical condition of performance. Such drills should prove<br />

valuable, both as a stimulus for learning and as an evaluation<br />

tool. Each learner could be required to perform competently in a<br />

surprise simulation 2 to 4 weeks after training, thereby providing<br />

a more valid test, and the participants’ general foreknowledge of<br />

the surprise testing should reinforce the training by encouraging<br />

continued mental rehearsal.<br />

The procedural skill of defibrillation can be taught primarily by<br />

repeated physical simulation, but the training program should also<br />

include a didactic component. This component will emphasize the<br />

extreme time-dependence of defibrillation and will aim to counter<br />

misconceptions about defibrillation, particularly regarding safety<br />

issues for caregivers and patients [23]. This component can likely<br />

be mastered through self-study, with a text or computer-based<br />

tutorial.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

The real problem comes not from the inherent difficulty of the task,<br />

but from the conditions of performance. Defibrillation is necessarily<br />

performed in a life-threatening situation, without warning and under<br />

intense time pressure [23]. Such stressors, in combination with the<br />

rarity of the event for a particular caregiver, can cause a significant<br />

decrease in skill. Demonstrating mastery in a single simulation in a<br />

classroom setting is not sufficient to ensure adequate retention and<br />

competent performance in an actual code. Clinical competence in<br />

defibrillation calls for overtraining: requiring practice well beyond<br />

the first competent performance by repeated performance in<br />

simulations and to a higher standard than may be required in an<br />

actual code. This is analogous to aspects of military training (e.g.,<br />

disassembling and reassembling a rifle while blindfolded). Two- to<br />

three-hour sessions with four to five trainees in each session should<br />

be sufficient for this component of the training.<br />

Affective aspects of defibrillation training also make it advisable<br />

to select a group of highly motivated learners. Participants in an<br />

in-hospital defibrillation program will be committing themselves to<br />

training intensively and maintaining competence for long periods of<br />

time without actually using the skill--but when called upon they will<br />

be expected to perform quickly and competently under very stressful<br />

conditions [23]. This level of personal commitment should not--and<br />

indeed, cannot--be expected of all nurses. But it is unnecessary to<br />

train all nurses in a facility, and indeed it is inadvisable to do so: a<br />

select group of nurses can be trained that their first responsibility<br />

in a code is to initiate monitoring and defibrillation while other<br />

staff do CPR, thus avoiding the role confusion that is known to<br />

be a significant problem with code team performance [24]. It may<br />

be possible to rely mainly on volunteers, thereby increasing the<br />

probability that training will succeed. The inherent emotional appeal<br />

of defibrillation--the very real prospect of restoring a patient’s life<br />

quickly, cleanly, and dramatically--can act as an inducement for<br />

volunteers as well as a powerful source of motivation during training.<br />

A study of the training program’s effectiveness should be preceded<br />

by a period for gathering baseline data on times to first monitoring<br />

and first defibrillation, [16] in order to gauge any Hawthorne<br />

effect in the subsequent study. A prospective, controlled study<br />

can be conducted by recruiting trainees to achieve randomization<br />

across shifts and units, so that any given unit will be staffed with<br />

a trained nurse approximately half of the time. If mean times to<br />

defibrillation are shortened in the experimental group (arrests with<br />

a defibrillation-trained nurse on the unit), survival can be tracked<br />

in a longer and/or larger study. The proportion of successful<br />

defibrillations should increase, and the number of shockable<br />

rhythms should also increase due to earlier monitoring--before<br />

deterioration to asystole [25].<br />

If the program proves effective, hospital-wide implementation can<br />

be accomplished by training perhaps one-fourth to one-third of<br />

nurses. Full coverage can be ensured with a backup system if the<br />

hospital pages codes overhead or if all defibrillation-trained nurses<br />

carry code pagers, thus allowing them to respond to code calls on<br />

adjoining units (and leave if coverage is already in place). Likewise,<br />

defibrillation-trained nurses can be instructed to return to their<br />

routine duties after the code team arrives.<br />

Conclusions<br />

The link between early defibrillation and survival is beyond<br />

dispute. A program focused on early defibrillation by nurses can<br />

be relatively easy to implement and cost-effective, and holds the<br />

promise of saving many lives.<br />

Competing interests<br />

The author declares that he has no competing interests.<br />

18


FEATURE<br />

References<br />

resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2005;65:285–290. doi: 10.1016/j.<br />

resuscitation.2004.12.020.<br />

1. Peberdy MA, Kaye W, Ornato JP. for the NRCPR Investigators.<br />

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults in the hospital: A<br />

report of 14720 cardiac arrests from the National Registry of<br />

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;58:297–308.<br />

doi: 10.1016/S0300-9572(03)00215-6.<br />

2. Ehlenbach WJ, Barnato AE, Curtis JR. Epidemiologic study of inhospital<br />

cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the elderly. N Engl J Med.<br />

2009;361(1):22–31. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0810245.<br />

3. Andréasson AC, Herlitz J, Bång A. Characteristics and<br />

outcome among patients with a suspected in-hospital cardiac<br />

arrest. Resuscitation. 1998;39(1):23–31. doi: 10.1016/S0300-<br />

9572(98)00120-8.<br />

4. Burns JP, Edwards J, Johnson J. Do-not-resuscitate order after<br />

25 years. Crit Care Med. 2003;31:1543–1550. doi: 10.1097/01.<br />

CCM.0000064743.44696.49.<br />

5. Hillman K, Parr M, Flabouris A, Bishop G, Stewart A. Redefining<br />

in-hospital resuscitation: The concept of the medical emergency<br />

team. Resuscitation. 2001;48(2):105–110. doi: 10.1016/S0300-<br />

9572(00)00334-8.<br />

6. American Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association<br />

Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency<br />

Cardiovascular Care. Part 7.2: Management of cardiac<br />

arrest. Circulation. 2005;112:IV-58–IV-66. doi: 10.1161/<br />

CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166557.<br />

7. Lee KH, Angus DC, Abramson NS. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation:<br />

What cost to cheat death? Crit Care Med. 1996;24:2046–2052. doi:<br />

10.1097/00003246-199612000-00019.<br />

8. Stewart JA. Defibrillation training for general unit nurses. J Emerg<br />

Nurs. 1992;18:519–524.<br />

9. American Heart Association. Textbook of Advanced Cardiac Life<br />

Support. 2. Dallas: American Heart Association; 1994.<br />

10. American Heart Association. 2005 American Heart Association<br />

Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency<br />

Cardiovascular Care. Part 5: Electrical Therapies: Automated<br />

External Defibrillators, Defibrillation, Cardioversion, and<br />

Pacing. Circulation. 2005;112:IV-35–IV-46. doi: 10.1161/<br />

CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166554.<br />

11. Kenward G, Castle N, Hodgetts TJ. Should ward nurses be using<br />

automatic external defibrillators as first responders to improve the<br />

outcome from cardiac arrest? A systematic review of the primary<br />

research. Resuscitation. 2002;52:31–37. doi: 10.1016/S0300-<br />

9572(01)00438-5.<br />

12. Forcina MS, Farhat AY, MD O’Neill WW. Cardiac arrest survival after<br />

implementation of automated external defibrillator technology in the<br />

in-hospital setting. Crit Care Med. 2009;37:1229–1236. doi: 10.1097/<br />

CCM.0b013e3181960ff3.<br />

13. Kobayashi L, Lindquist DG, Jenouri IM. Comparison of sudden<br />

cardiac arrest resuscitation performance data obtained from<br />

in-hospital incident chart review and in situ high-fidelity medical<br />

simulation. Resuscitation. 2010;81:463–71. doi: 10.1016/j.<br />

resuscitation.2010.01.003.<br />

14. Kaye W, Mancini ME, Lane-Truitt T. When minutes count--<br />

the fallacy of accurate time documentation during in-hospital<br />

15. Chan PS, Nichol G, Krumhotz HM. Hospital variation in time to<br />

defibrillation after in-hospital cardiac arrest. Arch Intern Med.<br />

2009;169:1265–73. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.196.<br />

16. Stewart JA. Determining accurate call-to-shock times is<br />

easy. Resuscitation. 2005;67(1):150–151. doi: 10.1016/j.<br />

resuscitation.2005.05.007.<br />

17. Chan PS, Krumholz HM, Nichol G. Delayed time to defibrillation after<br />

in-hospital cardiac arrest. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(1):9–17. doi:<br />

10.1056/NEJMoa0706467.<br />

18. Saxon LA. Survival after tachyarrhythmic arrest -- what are we<br />

waiting for? NEJM. 2008;358:77–79. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe0707823.<br />

19. Weisfeldt ML, Becker LB. Resuscitation after cardiac arrest: a<br />

3-phase time-sensitive model. JAMA. 2002;288:3035–8. doi:<br />

10.1001/jama.288.23.3035.<br />

20. NRCPR Science Advisory Board. Delayed time to defibrillation after<br />

in-hospital cardiac arrest. 2008. http://www.nrcpr.org/pdf/Time_to_<br />

Defibrillation.pdf<br />

21. Stewart AJ, Martin DL. Knowledge and attitude of nurses on medical<br />

wards to defibrillation. J Royal Coll Phys Lond. 1994;28:399–404.<br />

22. Lloyd MS, Heeke B, Walter PF, Langberg JJ. Hands-on<br />

defibrillation: an analysis of electrical current flow through<br />

rescuers in direct contact with patients during biphasic external<br />

defibrillation. Circulation. 2008;117:2510–2514. doi: 10.1161/<br />

CIRCULATIONAHA.107.763011.<br />

23. Mäkinen M, Niemi-Murola L, Kaila M, Castrén M. Nurses’ attitudes<br />

towards resuscitation and national resuscitation guidelines--Nurses<br />

hesitate to start CPR-D. Resuscitation. 2009;80:1399–1404. doi:<br />

10.1016/j.resuscitation.2009.08.025.<br />

24. Marsch SCU, Tschan F, Semmer N. Performance of first responders<br />

in simulated cardiac arrests. Crit Care Med. 2005;33:963–967. doi:<br />

10.1097/01.CCM.0000157750.43459.07.<br />

25. Weil MH. Rhythms and outcomes of cardiac arrest. Crit Care Med.<br />

2010;38:310. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b7825c.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

19


ADVERTORIAL FEATURE<br />

STANDARDIZED TRAINING OF PATIENT<br />

COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES WITH<br />

ADVANCED SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY<br />

Balazs Moldovanyi, M.Sc. Computer Engineering, MBA; Ádám Helybély, M.Sc. Computer Engineering,<br />

MBA; Hugo Azevedo, BSc, Applied Mathematics, MS, Biomedical Engineering; Michelle Castleberry, BSc,<br />

Professional Communication<br />

The Patient Communication Simulator<br />

Summary Statement: As Healthcare <strong>Simulation</strong>ists we constantly<br />

ask ourselves, where do we start improving our training for the nurses,<br />

physicians, and allied healthcare professionals of 2050 through<br />

healthcare simulation today? Patient simulators needs both an ongoing<br />

evolution along the traditional dimensions or realism, dependability<br />

and affordability as well as a revolution to broaden the potential of<br />

simulation. Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven communication<br />

technologies into simulators for training healthcare professionals of the<br />

future will be revolutionary.<br />

A Patient Communication Simulator is a device that integrates<br />

verbal communication functionality into a traditional full-body patient<br />

simulator by merging physiology simulation and communication training<br />

modalities into a single scenario-driven instructor controlled experience.<br />

In this article, we are evaluating the first commercially available Patient<br />

Communication Simulator (PCS) and its future potential.<br />

Key Words: Communication, Speech Recognition, AI, Science Fiction<br />

How will the nurses, physicians, and allied healthcare professionals<br />

of 2050 differ from their peers fifty years earlier? Future healthcare<br />

professionals of 2050 will be making enhanced decisions. Enhanced<br />

decisions through collaborative consultation; think: increased<br />

telemedicine. Enhanced decisions with information at their fingertips;<br />

think: wearable computing. Enhanced Decisions supported by<br />

technology; think: AI & machine learning. Correspondingly, future<br />

healthcare professionals of 2050 will have escalated the human<br />

element, which will be proportionally more important for care of the<br />

future patient and success of future health care teams; thus, furthering<br />

efforts towards achieving the balance of ‘Art and Science of Medicine’.<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> can be qualitatively better as a tool, by not only training<br />

to make triage decisions, but simultaneously allowing learners to<br />

understand the fundamentals in human-interactions. Training must<br />

improve for a stronger connection to the patient. <strong>Simulation</strong> must be<br />

more relatable. The time to start moving in that direction is now.<br />

Building on today’s needs with more advanced technology, The Patient<br />

Communication Simulator (PCS) is the first of its kind, infused with<br />

features and functions that a mere decade ago sounded like sciencefiction.<br />

ALEX is a revolutionary new product that integrates AV enhanced<br />

communication into a general purpose, full-body patient simulator, with<br />

the objective of aiding in the training of non-technical skills.<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

<strong>Today</strong>, a significant portion of simulation-based training is for a<br />

healthcare system specializing in acute, curative, episodic issues.<br />

Learners are trained to make emergency, high pressure decisions in<br />

the fraction of a second. This skill will remain critical in healthcare; but<br />

the call to action is clear, it’s time to do more and do better than just a<br />

quantitative reformation.<br />

Patient simulators have been proven to be efficient and low-risk tools<br />

for several elements of the training of healthcare professionals, from<br />

procedural skill development to team communication.<br />

Simultaneously, trained standardized patients have introduced similar<br />

standardization and consistency in simulated patient-professional<br />

encounters, focusing on communication and physical interactions.<br />

The next generation of patient simulators are devices that can merge<br />

the benefits of these distinctly different approaches into a seamlessly<br />

integrated experience, further enhancing the realism of the simulation<br />

hence better facilitating its ultimate educational goals.<br />

Using pre-programmed scenarios to drive not only the physiological<br />

data but also the spoken responses and reactions of the patient, a<br />

previously unattainable level of learning and standardization, is possible<br />

across a larger number of dimensions of the simulation experience.<br />

Is this the revolution and evolution we’ve been waiting for? Does this<br />

balance art and science of medicine? Yes, it is the natural progression<br />

in technology to help train healthcare professionals for the future.<br />

simulaids.eu.com/alex | simulaids.eu.com/vera | http://blog.pcs.ai<br />

ALEX fuses today’s most impactful<br />

emerging technologies into a truly<br />

remarkable new teaching tool, opening<br />

an exciting new chapter in patient<br />

simulation. ALEX is a cloud connected<br />

patient simulator with an eye camera,<br />

and Speech Recognition capabilities.<br />

20


COMPANY NEWS<br />

CAE<br />

CAE Healthcare Introduces the CAE Luna<br />

infant patient simulator<br />

In <strong>2019</strong> CAE Healthcare officially released CAE<br />

Luna, an innovative infant simulator designed<br />

to fulfill clinical training requirements for<br />

neonatal and infant care for health conditions<br />

requiring expedient, life-saving team actions.<br />

CAE Luna can be configured for essential<br />

infant nursing skills or for more advanced<br />

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Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation<br />

Program (NRP) and S.T.A.B.L.E. Program<br />

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includes Simulated Clinical Experiences<br />

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infant care.<br />

Discover true innovation in simulation with<br />

CAE Luna at https://caehealthcare.com/<br />

patient-simulation/luna/<br />

CAE Luna is the first completely wireless and<br />

tetherless baby simulator manufactured by<br />

CAE Healthcare. An advanced patient simulator<br />

offering physiological modeling that responds to<br />

clinical interventions just as an actual newborn<br />

child would, CAE Luna realistically represents a<br />

neonate from birth to 28 days after delivery.<br />

CAE Luna can be operated in hospitals or<br />

educational settings with a laptop, and without<br />

power cords or cables. The IV ports, peripheral<br />

arterial catheter site and umbilical cord allow<br />

professional caregivers to safely practice<br />

administering medications and fluids, while the<br />

advanced airway and tracheostomy site allows<br />

for repeated practice of delicate procedures<br />

without risk.<br />

WHY NOT WRITE FOR US?<br />

<strong>Simulation</strong> <strong>Today</strong> welcomes the submission of clinical<br />

papers, case reports and articles that you<br />

feel will be of interest to your colleagues.<br />

The publication is mailed to all resuscitation, A&E and anaesthetic departments<br />

plus all intensive care, critical care, coronary care and cardiology units plus<br />

Universities and Schools of Midwifery that teach <strong>Simulation</strong>.<br />

All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via:<br />

info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />

SIMULATION TODAY - AUTUMN <strong>2019</strong><br />

21

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