Safe Surgery Times - ASA volunteer volume | Page 5

Key questions

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What language is spoken?

People learn better in their native language. If you don’t share a common language with the delegates, try to ensure that someone is on hand to translate. (Note: the Lifebox education materials are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish and available for free download at: www.lifebox.org/education . Translation into additional languages is encouraged – please do share with Lifebox.)

Who is delivering anaesthesia?

In many countries, anaesthesia may be delivered primarily anaesthesia nurses or anaesthesia technicians, rather than by medical doctors. Understanding delegates’ level of training will help you to deliver a workshop that is appropriate for their needs and environment. (For instance: the basic learning in Tutorial 1 may be unnecessary for some attendees; the advanced learning in Tutorial 2 may not be suitable for others.)

Have we picked the right date?

Ensure that the date allows as many people can attend as possible. Public holidays, exam time, elections or rainy season can all interfere with the accessibility of your workshop. On the other hand, the Lifebox workshop is an easy addition to a national anaesthesia meeting or conference, and reduces workdays lost for travel.

How many faculty members do we need?

This of course depends on the number of attendees. The Lifebox workshop is designed for 1 user (self-learning) up to a hundred or more (classroom teaching). For small group sessions (the clinical scenarios are particularly valuable discussion time) we recommend a maximum of 8 participants per 1 teacher. A mix of visiting and local faculty will have the maximum impact, so ensure that your hosts are integrated into the workshop programme, and share materials in advance if possible. Note that there are further ‘train the trainers’ options available – please contact Lifebox if you would like more information.

Should all faculty members be anaesthesia providers?

The Lifebox pulse oximetry workshop is for anaesthesia providers, and should ideally be delivered by a medical anaesthetist/anesthesiologist. The WHO Checklist is for everyone involved in an operation (surgeon, anaesthesia provider, scrub nurse, recovery nurse) and if possible, different groups should be invited to attend; if so, it may be useful to have a faculty that reflects this diversity.

Should we pay per diems?

Lifebox and GHO do not support the paying of stipends for workshop attendance, as the educational benefit should be the primary value. However, requesting that hospital directors release their anaesthesia providers for training without loss of wages is a useful discussion to raise; travel expenses may also be appropriate if attendees are traveling long distances. Provision of lunch or snacks contributes significantly to morale.