Interprofessional bariatric training: - Safe manual handling techniques for healthcare students

Background Obesity is a growing problem within health care services and in preparing our undergraduate healthcare students for this the multidisciplinary moving and handling team at Northumbria University moved to develop a specialist bariatric simulation session to educate students across the healthcare disciplines to ensure safe techniques are understood and followed to ensure patient/client safety during clinical placements. Summary of work In preparation for introducing this new aspect of moving and handling training to the students the team undertook some specialised education and following this have developed a bariatric training session. Using both a specialized bariatric suit and bariatric equipment we aim to ensure the student gains a simulated experience of assisting the obese patient/client to change position, move from the bed to the wheel chair and move within the bed. In addition to this we plan to encourage a small number of students to wear the bariatric suit during the session in order for them to briefly experience the restrictive nature and subsequent potential psychological effects of being obese. Summary of results An improved understanding of some of the difficulties faced by obese patients in terms of mobility. An improved understanding of the difficulties in employing usual moving and handling techniques with an obese patient. Some appreciation of the negative psychological aspects felt by those who wore the bariatric simulation suit. Greater appreciation of the increased time and staffing required for manoeuvres. Development of a plan for pilot session with students. Discussion and conclusion Providing care for obese patients has increased in recent years and in preparing students to employ safe moving and handling practices it was felt essential to develop the teams expertise and include this aspect in our training packages. In introducing the staff and then the students to the safe use of the bariatric equipment will hope we will prepare the students appropriately for the use of such equipment within their clinical placements, thus preparing them for the workplace after graduation/qualification. Recommendations Carry out small pilot sessions with senior undergraduate students to finalise the format of the sessions to ensure safety, timing and sensitivity is appropriate. Feedback from these session would be gathered to inform the process moving forward. To introduce the sessions to the undergraduate students over the next academic year. To utilise this method when developing other aspects of the moving and handling programme. References Barr, H., Helme, M. & D’Avray, L. – CAIPE (2014) Review of Interprofessional Education in the United Kingdom, 1997-2013 CAIPE Hignett, S. and Griffiths, P. (2009) Risk factors for moving and handling the bariatric patient. Nursing Standard, Vol. 24, (11) pp.40–48