Proficiency-based training (PBT) is a novel approach for accelerating skills acquisition in a simulated environment. Successful implementation of PBT programmes promises to improve patient care and safety by allowing healthcare professionals to acquire proficiency in clinical skills without learning for the first time in clinical practice. To-date, the evidence around proficiency-based training in healthcare settings has concentrated on the acquisition of surgical skills. This scoping review aims to clearly determine the existing evidence relating to the use of PBT in the education of healthcare professionals. It will also identify existing evidence about PBT in the context of non-technical skills training. A sensitive search strategy will be employed across databases including PubMED, CINAHL, SCOPUS, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PsychINFO to look for material addressing the use of proficiency-based methodologies in the training of healthcare professionals. Trials registries will be searched for trials which are in progress but not yet reported. All evidence pertaining to proficiency-based simulation for healthcare professionals will be considered for inclusion. The search will be limited to information published in the English language. The titles and abstracts of identified works will be screened by at least two reviewers. Relevant works which are identified through screening will be retrieved in full text and reviewed for methodological consistency with PBT. Results will be presented in tabular form and as an evidence map and will be reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
O’Carroll et al. (Thu,) studied this question.