International Paramedic Practice, January 2013, VOL 2, NO 1 • www.internationaljpp.com 11 Research An evaluation of high idel ity simulation training for paramedics in Ireland T he requirement for pre-hospital practitioners such as emergency medical technicians, paramedics and advanced paramedics, to perform additional interventions is ever-increasing. In Ireland, the training of pre-hospital practitioners is currently developing and evolving to meet this demand. Simulated scenarios during basic paramedic training focus mainly on teaching practitioners how to implement the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council Clinical Practice Guidelines (PHECC, 2012). These scenarios are normally of low idelity relecting a low level of realism and often delivered in a classroom environment. Road trafic collisions and other outdoor scenarios are conducted in car-parks or other outdoor spaces using student paramedic peers as role-players. The training of advanced paramedics ideally requires the use of patient simulators with the capability to simulate more advanced interventions including; advanced airway management, intravenous administration of medication and luids, and intraosseous catheter insertion (Figures 1 and 2). At present, there is no formal allocation of continuous professional development points awarded to any paramedical training in Ireland. Other than mandatory up-skilling to changes in PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines, there is no opportunity for pre-hospital practitioners to enter a simulated learning environment and, in general there is a lack of any continuous, structured post- graduate training. Although paramedic training has used simulation for many years as a training tool, it has mainly focussed on acquisition of clinical skills using part-task trainers and not high-idelity team-based David Power, Simulation Manager, ASSERT Centre, University College Cork, Ireland. Patrick Henn, Lecturer, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland. Paul O’Driscoll, Advanced Paramedic, National Ambulance Service, Southern Region, Ireland. Theresa Power, Simulation Specialist Nurse, ASSERT Centre, University College Cork, Ireland. John McAdoo, Professor and Medical Director, ASSERT Centre, University College, Cork, Ireland. Helen Hynes, Lecturer, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland. Stephen Cusack, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University College Cork, Ireland. Email for Correspondance: d.power@ucc.ie Abstract • Introduction: The requirement for pre-hospital practitioners to perform additional interventions is ever increasing. In Ireland the training of pre- hospital practitioners is currently developing and evolving to meet this demand. This requires the use of simulators with the capability to simulate more advanced interventions. • Objectives: We wished to explore the views of pre-hospital care practitioners post participation in a pilot high idelity simulation in emergency care, to gauge its acceptability, relevance and application. • Method: Pre-hospital care practitioners’ participated in 12 full immersion high-idelity simulated scenarios, over three consecutive days. Live video recording was during the scenarios and replayed during debrieing sessions. The participants completed a voluntary and anonymous evaluation of the training using six statements on a ive point Likert scale and free text written comments to three open-ended questions. • Results: The overall response to the training was overwhelming positive with 94.4 % of the participants either strongly agreed or agreed that the course met their learning needs. All agreed that they found the course relevant to their stage of training and that the course will impact beneicially on their clinical practice. • Conclusion: This pilot study has shown that high-idelity simulation is both applicable and relevant to pre-hospital practitioner. Key words l Education l Emergency medicine l High-fidelity l Pre-hospital l Simulation Accepted for publication 14 December 2012