In March 2020, a rapidly growing number of patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) 1 prompted most Danish intensive care units (ICUs) to increase their capacity in light of the concerning reports from Northern Italy of a surge of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. The results suggest that doctors could acquire much relevant knowledge to help with work in teams in intensive care units after a 1-day evidence-based course in caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. This study describes how non-intensive care medicine doctors were trained to assist intensive care specialists to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Many intensive care units have been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes requiring unconventional measures to provide the necessary medical expertise to manage the heavy patient load. The test is available in appendix and online. This knowledge was largely retained as shown by a multiple-choice test supported by validity evidence. Non-intensivist doctors, irrespective of experience level, can acquire relevant knowledge for working in the ICU through a focused 1-day evidence-based course. Mean pretest score was 11.9 (SD 3.0), mean posttest score 20.6 (1.8), and mean retention test score 17.4 (2.2). The test consisted of 23 questions and demonstrated a credible pass–fail standard at 16 points. Resultsįifty-four non-intensivist doctors from 15 different specialties with a wide range in clinical experience level completed the course. Doctors who participated in the course completed the test before (pretest), after (posttest), and again within 8 weeks following the course (retention test). Validity evidence was gathered for the test by comparing answers from novices and experts in intensive care.

The 1-day course was comprised of theoretical sessions and hands-on training in ventilator use, hemodynamic monitoring, vascular access, and use of personal protective equipment. The aims of this study were to gather validity evidence for the theoretical test and explore the effects of the course. A training course and a theoretical test for non-intensivist doctors were developed. This resulted in an urgent need for doctors with competence in working with critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Due to an expected surge of COVID-19 patients in need of mechanical ventilation, the intensive care capacity was doubled at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, in March 2020.

Doctors in training step 3 pdf