Authors: Lori Hardie, Lori Lioce.
Background: Quality healthcare simulation depends largely on skilled facilitation. Identification and development of essential facilitator competencies challenges healthcare simulation operations across the world. Many organizations and authors have articulated and developed standards or recommendations for simulation facilitator development, but none have provided a synthesized and operationalized list of simulation facilitator competencies.
Method: Analysis of organizational standards and recommendations for simulation, combined with a scoping review of recent literature, provide a synthesis of essential elements required for simulation facilitators. Eight documents from six professional organizations, and 23 literature articles identified from the scoping review, were analyzed for statements related to facilitator competencies and/or essential elements, which were then coded, and themes abstracted using a computer assisted qualitative data analysis software. Elements were then expanded and operationalized.
Results: From the eight documents and 23 articles, content analysis identified over 1200 facilitator competency related statements which were thematically grouped into seven categories: 1) Knowledge underpinning simulation, 2) Skills to deliver simulation, 3) Skills to support participants, 4) Skills to support debriefing and/or assessment, 5) Facilitator comportment or qualities, 6) Commitment to continuous quality and safety improvement, and 7) Committment to professional development at every level. The analysis identified 30 essential elements which were expanded and operationalized into 149 sub-elements for evidence-based facilitation.
Conclusion: Simulation facilitator development should be based on expert consensus and evidence-based practice. This research expands and operationalizes essential elements of healthcare simulation facilitation and provides a focused pathway for development and professional advocacy to advance the science of simulation.
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