Assessment of critical care education in the context of a Tele-ICU implementation.

Abstract

Background: There's a gap in understanding how healthcare workers perceive professional development activities and goals, specifically within a Tele-ICU environment. Gaining this knowledge is crucial for optimizing educational strategies and fostering professional engagement in this specialized setting.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the implementation of educational activities for a multidisciplinary team directly involved in patient care, as a component of the Tele-ICU project named TeleUTI Conectada.

Method: This is a prospective study conducted within the TeleUTI Conectada project, involving 8 Brazilian ICUs. The educational component was delivered through 3 distinct methodologies: in-person simulation, asynchronous, and synchronous online classes. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) and additional questionnaires to assess professionals' self-perceived knowledge were applied. The participants' performance was assessed by comparing the initial and final scores of the asynchronous classes. Variables were summarized using median (IQR) or frequency (%). The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test was used to compare the differences between the initial and final scores of the asynchronous classes and the differences between professional performance. A P-value <.05 was considered significant for all analyses.

Results: Between December 2023 and October 2024, 285 professionals were recruited to participate in educational activities. The majority of participants were female (202/285, 71%), with a median age of 36 years (31, 43). Nurses comprised the largest group of participants (161/285, 56.5%). Across all learning strategies, the course was highly rated, as indicated by the NPS and corroborated by the additional self-perception questions. The asynchronous course exhibited lower scores on both NPS and additional questionnaires, though without a statistically significant difference observed among professional groups. Participants expressed positive perceptions of the courses having met their expectations, enhanced their knowledge, and the content being applicable to their clinical practice. The median test scores comparing the initial and final scores of the asynchronous classes showed significant improvement within the respiratory therapist and nursing team.

Conclusion: This study described the implementation of a multidisciplinary education program within the TeleUTI Conectada project. It may offer a viable model for essential critical care training in remote areas with limited access to specialized healthcare professionals.