Resus Today Autumn 2021

FEATURE
THE OPPORTUNITIES OF BLS
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING (SDL)
IN A POST COVID WORLD
Brayden Online supporting self-directed learning
RESUSCITATION TODAY - AUTUMN 2021
The recent Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting backlog of
Basic Life Support (BLS) training is reportedly putting increasing
pressure on training departments that are struggling to meet their
BLS certification compliance targets. This article looks at the
Brayden Online system and how through close collaboration with
resuscitation educators and instructors, Self Directed Learning (SDL)
BLS training is now enabling high quality training and assessment for
a high throughput of trainees that is both cost and time efficient.
Self-directed learning is not a new pedagogical approach in healthcare
education having successfully been employed in a wide variety of
training programs across multiple clinical disciplines and related
curricula 1,2 . However, the teaching of Basic Life Support through SDL
has presented some unique challenges to the clinical community 3 . It
has been suggested that theoretical eLearning programs combined
with practical CPR skills training have not yet convincingly proven to be
consistent quality training experiences, whilst subscription costs and
reduced management controls for the instructor in some systems have
also been seen as prohibitive factors.
Commenting on the issues of integrating SDL systems into BLS training,
Kevin Mackie, Lead for Education at Resuscitation Council UK said,
‘We have steered away from SDL training through sole use of eLearning
because the muscle memory of practicing CPR skills on a manikin is
actually much more important than knowing the theory. The approach
we are looking at here is blended learning, which must include a
practical, hands-on component 4,5,6 . Instructors can direct their trainees
to extensive eLearning resources to cover BLS theory; resources which
are now highly engaging and immersive e.g. Healthcare Education
England, E-Learning for Healthcare (eLFH). Once completed, trainees
can then practice on a manikin at a time convenient to them. A good
SDL system gives the student easy to interpret, real-time feedback
on their performance allowing them to make instant improvements to
the quality of their CPR 7,8 . They can then progress to an assessment
that provides full debrief metrics, if successful, this sends a certificate
direct to their email and the organisation’s LMS (Learning Management
System) - all in one simple, streamlined process.’
Objective versus subjective assessment
‘One of the challenges of previous SDL systems has been the averaging
out of metrics, which gave trainees anomalous scores across the
different systems’, continued Mackie. ‘Working with Brayden on this
aspect of the system, we know the metrics have been inputted by UK
and Global professionals, where every single element of CPR has been
looked at and weighted accordingly – it’s the professional standard of
expected performance 9 .’
‘Objective and repeatable assessment is I feel pivotal to ensure
consistent, high standards of CPR from all healthcare staff required to
initiate BLS in cardiac arrests. Recent research 10 found that subjective
assessment has been shown to be inconsistent when compared with
objective assessment. Resuscitation trainers will be all too familiar with
the pressures of progressing large cohorts of BLS trainees in classroom
settings, where time and logistical constraints have meant that some
have been passed as ‘good enough’ rather than attaining the higher
standards we would all wish.
The 24/7, high frequency, low fidelity nature of this system’s set up,
enabling trainees to practice as their own schedules allow to reach the
standards we set, then be assessed and certified accordingly, makes a
compelling case for SDL BLS training, not just as a solution for present
training challenges in Covid times but as the standard training approach
for the future 11 .’
Integration and instructor autonomy within
a hospital’s Learning Management System
(LMS) –
The Genk Experience
Sylvain Haekens, Head of Training and Development at Ziekenhuis
Oost-Limburg, Genk in Belgium looked at SDL BLS training solutions
six years ago with two primary needs in mind; a system that could be
integrated into the hospital’s new LMS and a training program that could
provide objective assessment to ensure high standards of CPR across
the hospital.
‘The hospital has approximately 4,000 employees and my department
is responsible for all education and development programs for
both doctors and nurses. I am constantly looking at opportunities
to maximise both cost and time efficiencies in our programs, while
maintaining the highest standards in both educational delivery and
outcomes,’ said Haekens.
‘The Brayden Online system caught my attention because it had the
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