Date Presented 04/03/2025
We describe the design, development, and evaluation of an enhanced home health care virtual simulation training system to detect and manage hazards in client homes. Participants provided feedback for program development and future implementation.
Primary Author and Speaker: Sarah E. Anderson
Additional Authors and Speakers: Savannah Meinen, Scarlett O’Hara, Sarah Ash, Tina Maly, Tejeswini Siva Sathya, Amy Darragh
Contributing Authors: Carolyn Sommerich, Barbara Polivka, Steve Lavender, Marilly Palettas, Lisa Von Lehmden, Katie Gallenstein
PURPOSE: While home healthcare workers are essential care providers within their communities, many do not receive adequate safety training, putting them at risk for injuries while working in unpredictable home settings.
DESIGN: This study used a participatory, iterative, human-centered approach to re-design, re-develop, and re-evaluate and enhanced home healthcare virtual simulation training system (HH-VSTS). To improve the HH-VSTS, we collected qualitative and quantitative data via surveys and interviews in three phases: exploration, ideation, and evaluation. Participants were current home healthcare workers (e.g., OTPs, aides, nurses) and agency managers within Ohio.
METHOD: Participants completed several surveys about their exposure to safety hazards and their perceptions of the HH-VSTS feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, usability, usefulness, and desirability. They also took part in one or more individual or group interviews where they discussed their experiences with personal safety training, experienced the current HH-VSTS, and provided their feedback on different design ideas.
RESULTS: Data collection and analysis for this study are still ongoing, and preliminary results are presented. A total of 24 home healthcare workers and managers are currently enrolled in the study and 10 have completed the first phase. While about 85% of managers agreed that the current HH-VSTS was acceptable, appropriate, and feasible, all participants were able to provide critical feedback on many HH-VSTS features and functions including the need for improved user interface design, outcome reporting, and interactivity.
CONCLUSION: These findings will identify critical design features, detail the development process, and evaluate the usability of an enhanced HH-VSTS among home healthcare workers. This research will improve our understanding of home safety for home healthcare workers and be used to develop targeted injury prevention training modules.
References
Polivka, B. J., Anderson, S., Lavender, S. A., Sommerich, C. M., Stredney, D. L., Wills, C. E., & Darragh, A. R. (2019). Efficacy and usability of a virtual simulation training system for health and safety hazards encountered by healthcare workers. Games for health journal, 8(2), 121–128.
Polivka, B. J., Wills, C. E., Darragh, A., Lavender, S., Sommerich, C., & Stredney, D. (2015). Environmental health and safety hazards experienced by home health care providers: A room-by-room analysis. Workplace health & safety, 63(11), 512–522.
Darragh, A. R., Lavender, S., Polivka, B., Sommerich, C. M., Wills, C. E., Hittle, B. A., ... & Stredney, D. L. (2016). Gaming simulation as health and safety training for home health care workers. Clinical simulation in nursing, 12(8), 328–335.
Darragh, A., Provenzano, A., Oliver, H., Lavender, S., Sommerich, C., Anderson, S., & Polivka, B. (2023). Solving Health & Safety Hazards Encountered in Client Homes: Effective Communication With Clients & Families. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(Supplement_2), 7711510312p1–7711510312p1.
