Novel ECT Training Session For Psychiatry Residents From France

Out on PubMed, is this LTE in JECT, from clinicians in Lille, France:


High-Fidelity Simulation: A Promising Tool to Tackle Negative Representations of Electroconvulsive Therapy in Psychiatry Residents.

Daaboul J, Fovet T, Nunes F, Lebuffe G, Vaiva G, Amad A.J ECT. 2021 May 21. doi: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000774. Online ahead of print.PMID: 34015790 

And from the text:

Between April 2018 and March 2020, 31 voluntary psychiatry residents benefited from a high-fidelity simulation program at the Lille University Simulation Training Center (PRESAGE: http://presage.univlille2.fr). For each resident, this program, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, included: (1) an ECT session without complication with a high-fidelity manikin under the supervision of a senior psychiatrist (A.A.) and (2) a brief theoretical presentation on ECT (history, modality, mechanisms of action, indications, contraindications, complications, adverse effects). We used the Attitudes component of the Questionnaire on Attitudes and Knowledge of ECT (QuAKE) to evaluate representations and attitudes toward ECT before (T0) and immediately after the training session (T1). The Attitudes component of the QuAKE, which has a very good reliability (Cronbach α, 0.91), included 16 positive and negative statements about ECT, where each item was scored on a 5-point Likert scale (from strongly agree to strongly disagree).3 The score ranges from a minimum of 16 to a maximum of 80, a high score indicating more negative attitudes. All the data were anonymized. Among the 31 participants, 19 were women (61%) and 12 were men (39%). The mean age was 26.8 ± 1.86 years. Fourteen participants (45.2%) had already managed a patient treated with ECT, 13 participants (41.9%) had already attended a session, but only 2 participants (6.5%) had already benefited from a specific training.

We observed a statistically significant decrease of 4.1 points (P < 0.001; paired t test, t = 5.84) in the Attitudes QuAKE score before (mean, 32.3 ± 4.74) versus after (mean, 28.2 ± 6.29) the high-fidelity simulation program, indicating an increase in the positive representations and attitude toward ECT (Fig. 1). All participants, but 4, showed enhanced positive attitudes toward ECT. Interestingly, this result is consistent with 2 previous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) showing that medical students trained with a high-fidelity simulation manikin presented a significant improvement in their skills, comforts, and knowledge toward ECT, in comparison with students benefiting from a classic training.

This LTE presents a novel training program for psychiatry residents using a manikin simulation of ECT. Not surprisingly, it was helpful for improving attitudes and knowledge.

We all know that ECT education, training and experience are woefully inadequate at the medical school and residency levels.

Congratulations to these colleagues for making the effort to create this educational experience and for sharing it in the literature.