SimHand App

The SimHand App is a role game built around different handover scenarios that allows students learn about Handover in an enjoyable way.

The simulation scenarios included in SimHand are typical handover communications with patients or with other medical staff. The game can be played in three different languages; English, German and Spanish. Like in real-life handover situations, SimHand involves making instant decisions on what to do next and requires the recall of important handover knowledge and checklists.

The SimHand app can therefore be easily integrated into face-to face handover teaching and training. The app allows medical students and healthcare professionals to explore different medical handover scenarios on their mobile device (iOS and Android) irrespective of their location. Users can practice their decision-making skills relating to important handover scenarios. Thus students can practice their psychological preparedness for different handover situations in a safe environment and benefit from prompt and appropriate feedback on their decisions.

For 25 years experiential learning has raised great interest amongst medical professionals. Experiential learning includes learning by doing, role-playing and simulation (Cooper & Libby, 1997). In their article on Education in Resuscitation Chamberlain and Hazinski (2001) state that ‘repeated practice in realistic role-playing scenarios with situations and environments students are most likely to encounter’ can increase confidence and the willingness to respond. ‘By participating in simulation scenarios, students can learn to control feelings of panic and their fear of emergency situations (Leigh, 2008). Inspired by this, the SimHand App trains medical handovers using an engaging game with a role-based pattern.

SimHand was designed by an international team in the context of the PATIENT project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme project nr: 2012-2981_527620-LLP-1-2012-1-NL-ERASMUS-FEXI.

Further information about the handover topic, the SimHand App and others applications for medical handovers can be found at: www.patient-project.eu