Improving competency in safe patient handling practice through online learning beyond the classroom – a longitudinal study

Webb, J; Hogg, P; Twiste, M; Correa, ES

Abstract

Importance
Safe patient handling is intrinsic to healthcare provision; yet, educational provision of the skills for this are inconsistently delivered, without evidence that traditional face-to-face training reduces risk.
Objective
This study assesses the long-term effectiveness of replacing annual practical handling updates with an online training system, combined with competency assessment on levels of skill and safety. This is the largest study of its kind with undergraduate occupational therapy students.
Design
Quasi-experimental longitudinal three-year study to track practical people handling skill development in undergraduate occupational therapy students. All participants had access to a multimedia online training system (to replace tutor led practical training) used in combination with annual competency evaluations to measure skills and safety in four people handling tasks.
Setting / participants
Competency assessments took place with all participants (n = 243) at three data collection points at beginning of year 2 + 3 and end of Year 3.
Outcomes / Measures
Each participant attended an individual 45-minute competency evaluation, data collected using competency assessment tool by trained assessors.
Results
Results demonstrate significant increases in skill level for sit-to-stand and repositioning in the chair (p<0.05), hoisting and slide sheet manoeuvres (p<0.0001), with 100% safety scores achieved for repositioning in the chair and hoisting.
Conclusions / relevance
Students using the online system performed significantly better compared with previous students receiving traditional annual practical updates, providing an evidence base to reduce tutor-led training hours whilst increasing skills and safety levels utilizing a combination of the online system and competency assessment.
What this article adds
Results contribute to the evidence base supporting an alternative approach using an online moving and handling training system to improve skills, competence and safety whilst reducing time in delivering annual people handling updates. This approach was found to reinforce safe handling techniques, increase independence, competency, safety, of service users and carers working in health and social care environments, whilst reducing time spent delivering annual people-handling updates. Research findings may have potential to replace face-to-face training updates, particularly in the current climate of social distancing.
Implications for occupational therapy rehabilitation
• Active engagement with the online system and learning tools within it combined with regular “skill checking” encourages a learner centred, problem solving and reflective approach to practical skill development using a just in time approach.
• Suitable for a range of qualified therapists and care givers for skill updates and continuing professional development.
• The increased competency of participants will promote enablement, patient safety, tissue viability and harm free care with service users.
• Reduction in associated training costs is possible by utilising an effective multimedia online moving and handling and risk assessment learning system combined with competency assessment approach.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 29, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2022
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Apr 14, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Journal: American Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Print ISSN: 0272-9490
• Electronic ISSN: 1943-7676
• Publisher: American Occupational Therapy Association
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 7602205160
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.044388
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.044388
• Related Public URLs: https://ajot.aota.org/index.aspx