Healthcare Personnel Training​

Developing innovative and effective IPC and vaccination training approaches for healthcare personnel.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and practice and vaccine communication in U.S. healthcare settings. We are working with the CDC to develop innovative IPC and vaccine communication training approaches for healthcare personnel (HCP). IPC training approaches build on results from IPSee simulations and utilize the ShadowBox training method, a scenario-based training technique that allows learners to compare their thinking with a panel of experts. This approach strengthens the cognitive skills (e.g., decision-making, sensemaking) we have identified as important to practicing IPC effectively. Vaccine training approaches address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among unvaccinated patient populations. We are working with training experts and end-users to develop conversational agents that simulate realistic conversations between HCP and patients. Conversations will address factors that most frequently contribute to vaccine hesitancy and include opportunities for HCP to practice recommended principles of persuasion. The resulting IPC and vaccination training approaches will be tested with target populations to assess the training effect and identify improvements. 

Methods include:

• Prototyping
• Usability Assessment
• Interviews and Focus Group Discussions