Can manikin simulation meet students learning needs for the assessment of the deteriorating learning disability client?

The simulation was designed to improve knowledge and skills in assessing and managing a deteriorating patient, with learning disabilities. The rationale was:- 1) Learning disability (LD) is an under researched field in manikin simulation. 2) People with LD have a higher degree of health inequalities when compared with the general population (Emerson and Baines 2010) leading to premature death (CIPOLD 2013). This simulation included team working, leadership and problem solving to ensure high quality, safe client care. We wrote three scenarios –Seizure, Pneumonitis solids / liquid in trachea: as these are the most common causes of premature death and Hypoglycaemia; due to an increased prevalence in LD clients. These were reviewed by a LD service user for authenticity. Each simulation scenario ended with a debrief. The students’ completed a post simulation evaluation and attended a discussion group. Initial feedback from the group was positive. They enjoyed having the simulations in a controlled environment with immediate feedback from staff and peers. The negatives were they would have like a staged approach across the programme progressing to more complex interactions in year 3 and that they hadn't had more simulations’! We are transcribing the tapes from the discussion group for more evaluative information