Board 223 - Program Innovations Abstract Networking of Simulation Based Training Educators in Multicenter Using Video Conference System (Submission #613)

Introduction/Background It is challenging and difficult in making arrangement for the date to share ideas or experiences of simulation based training (SBT) among educators in multiple areas. As we start SBT curriculum, we often face different varieties of problems or questions in the process of curriculum development, managing courses and running the simulation center. In such situations, we need candid feedback given by persons on the outside as well as persons involved. What we really need as an SBT educator is sometimes simple ideas which give us a spot of advice, not necessarily concentrated dense one day hands on session. To maintain the quality of curriculum or to create new Methods about SBT, it is extremely useful to have meetings constantly across organizational boundaries. Though the large number of medical educators have started their original SBT curriculum in each hospital, there were no casual meetings in which they could discuss and share ideas about curriculum which had just begun. Methods In the beginning of 2012, we established the Simulation Programming Study Group (SPSG) which conducts casual meetings about SBT topics every other month. Initially the group objective was to establish a sustainable and expanding network of simulation educators in Tokyo area to share knowledge and experience and introduce innovative practices through scenario programming of computer-controlled high fidelity manikins. The original members consisted of MDs and nurses who were dedicated to education using SBT. With each session, the number of person interested in signing up has increased up to more than 30 persons. Since January in 2013, we started pre-session tours to simulation center in each hospital so that we can improve in managing the center from various perspectives. Current attendees are not only healthcare workers but also other specialists including administrative manager of simulation center, statistician and postgraduate students of Healthcare Informatics. The variety of specialties expanded the possibility of our group and at the same time member’s location spread through the wide area of Japan. Results: Conclusion This time we would like to introduce our attempt of creating new activities including sharing scenarios and connecting members in remote location via video conference system, how it works and what should we prepare for it. Furthermore, examining the questionnaire by attendees of the latest session, we figured out the satisfaction and expectation of participants was high even thoug there were some adverse comments about technical problems. Comparing onsite participants to remote participants, there were no significant differences in satisfaction score of active discussion through the session (average score of on-site participants 3.1*, SD 0.88, average score of remote participants 3.5* SD 0.55, p=0.17). The expectation of remote participant’s corporation as a presenter was also quite high in both groups and there were no significant differences between them (average score of on-site participants 4.7*, SD 0.48, average score of remote participants 4.5* SD 0.84, p=0.28). Overall, comprehensive average score of communication quality using video conference system was 3.44*, SD 0.51 which means some technical issues need to be improved. (*On a scale of 1 to 5). We established the casual programming study group for SBT educators. Within the last two years, the group developed to the extent that we need to innovate video conference system with remote participants and contents have been expanded with varieties of members. We introduce our activity for everyone who needs network and study session with other educators across organizational boundaries. Disclosures Speaker at conference for Laerdal Medical Japan.