Identifying target groups

Identifying target groups:

To deliver an effective simulation education program a target audience needs to be clearly identified.  The important factors to consider include:

• learners experience and knowledge—narrow vs broad
• single discipline vs multidisciplinary approach
• learner work environment—single vs varied, rural/regional/tertiary, etc.
• usual work teams vs adhoc teams.

Designing and delivering a training program for a narrowly specified participant group is far easier. This can lead to a highly effective learning process. However, it does not reflect real world working or learning conditions, and the challenge is to design simulation programs that:

• adapt to varying participant levels of competency
• facilitate multidisciplinary learning and practice
• highlight the importance of teamwork and behavioural components of healthcare.

Such programs, though more challenging to design and deliver, should provide more effective and enduring learning and behavioural change.