Dramatic Solutions showcase innovative Infection Control training at the University of Birmingham

Drama based training videos include hazard perception tests with assessment to improve retention in the training of health professionals and improve cross infection control.

Birmingham, 22nd June 2010 - Dramatic Solutions in conjunction with the College of Medical and Dental Sciences at the University of Birmingham have created a series of unique infection control awareness training videos that will be showcased at the University on 22 June 2010.

In a bid to improve training of health professionals in cross infection control, the Nursing and Physiotherapy team at the University of Birmingham contracted Learning and Development film makers Dramatic Solutions to develop an innovative approach to improving the teaching of infection control in their curriculum.

Healthcare associated infections contribute to unnecessary suffering and anxiety for patients and represent a significant cost to the NHS. Many infections can be avoided through good cross infection control practices.

"Dramatic Solutions have created a unique series of training aids that will improve our teaching in the short term and remain relevant as part of our longer-term curriculum," commented Dr Jill Ramsay, Programme Director for the undergraduate Physiotherapy degree programme. "The videos have been created in a way that meets our strong ethic of inter-professional learning and will be used in teaching and as a basis for discussion, essays and presentations."

Colin Rote, Director at Dramatic Solutions added, "We are delighted how our ‘drama in the workplace’ approach has delivered a highly relevant and reusable training tool that will positively impact patient welfare and reduce costs."

Working with Nursing and Physiotherapy staff and students, together with actors, Dramatic Solutions developed five videos that examine the various elements of infection control, embedding CGI special effects to show infection spread and an interactive ‘hazard perception test’ with assessment to reinforce the learnings. The videos cover as many situations as possible, highlighting the invisible path of infection, from hands to walking frames to patients and on to the drug round and bed making. It is expected that a measurable improvement will be seen in the hand washing that students do before and after they go out on clinical placement.

Dramatic Solutions combine their background in drama with state of the art training and video production techniques to create learning experiences with workplace relevance that ensure engagement and retention. The approach has been successfully applied in a wide variety of industries including healthcare, finance and oil and gas.

_{About Dramatic Solutions
Dramatic Solutions is a leading provider of media production services to organisations who are committed to developing soft skills, collaborative working practices, better customer service, and cultural change. Learn more about Dramatic Solutions at www.dramaticsolutions.tv}

_{About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham has around 28,000 students, 6,000 members of staff and a turnover of £411 million.}

_{College of Medical and Dental Sciences}

• _{The College has been delivering medical education for more than 180 years.}
  
• _{Over 85% of students stay in the area in which they trained, once they have qualified.}
• _{The School of Medicine teaching links with sixty-five general practices and sixteen teaching hospitals.}
• _{All sixteen teaching hospitals are linked to the University by a broadband IT virtual campus.}
• _{The Nursing and Physiotherapy section has a long tradition of interdisciplinary learning, teaching and research. This is founded on a programme of health-related research which underpins its established reputation for excellence in the nursing and physiotherapy based courses that they provide.}

_{For more information please contact:
Colin Rote, Partner
Dramatic Solutions
Tel:  07979 650370
Email: colin.rote@dramaticsolutions.co.uk}

_{Rachel Burrows – Head of Communications
University of Birmingham
Tel: 0121 414 6681
Email: r.burrows@bham.ac.uk}

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