Implementing Safe Sleep Simulation at Parkview Health
At Parkview Hospital, ensuring the safety and well-being of newborns is a top priority. One significant initiative we've undertaken is the implementation of the Safe Sleep Simulation toolkit to educate parents and caregivers on the best practices for infant sleep. This program has been instrumental in addressing common concerns and misconceptions about safe sleep practices. Here’s why and how we implemented this program in our birthing centers, and the impact it has had on our community.
The Beginning: Addressing a critical need
Our journey began with recognizing the urgent need for comprehensive education on safe sleep practices. The Safe Sleep Simulation toolkit was initiated to combat the alarming rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to data, the number of infant sleep-related deaths remains approximately 3,400 per year, a figure that has not significantly changed since 1999 (1). Despite extensive public health campaigns like Safe to Sleep, which began nearly 30 years ago, adherence to safe sleep practices remains inconsistent among caregivers, contributing to the stagnant rate of these deaths (2,3).
The CDC highlights that current strategies for public health education on safe sleep are not effectively reducing these rates and suggests that innovative approaches are necessary to better educate caregivers and prevent infant sleep-related deaths (4). The Journal of the American Medical Association also called for a "think outside the box" approach to address these issues, emphasizing the need for new and effective educational methods (5).
Development and Implementation
The Safe Sleep Simulation idea emerged from Parkview’s Healthy Mom and Baby Innovation Competition. The team at the Mirro Center for Research and Innovation developed it to address infant mortality. The toolkit employs hands-on learning experiences and audiovisual demonstrations, including 3D infant models and an interactive app.
These resources highlight the importance of following safe sleep guidelines (6), such as having babies sleep alone on their backs and in cribs (the ABCs of safe sleep). Despite evidence showing that placing an infant on its back to sleep reduces these risks, many caregivers still practice unsafe sleep habits that increase the likelihood of these tragedies (2,3).
The Tools: Visual and hands-on learning
The centerpiece of our safe sleep
education is the use of 3D simulation models and anatomical esophagus and trachea models with liquid to demonstrate the effects of different sleep positions on a baby's airways. As Kirsten King, community health worker, and a former home visitor, Parkview Health, expresses, "These tools provide a tangible way for parents to understand the risks associated with unsafe sleep practices.”
“The most effective way to reduce the risk of SIDS is to ALWAYS put babies to sleep on their BACKS,” says Kirsten. “Parents always worry about babies choking on their vomit if they sleep on their backs. However, babies are more likely to choke on vomit while sleeping on their tummies.” The visual aid of seeing liquid move within the models starkly illustrates why back-sleeping is safer for infants, addressing common parental fears about choking.
Overcoming Implementation Challenges
“Despite the clear benefits, integrating these tools into our educational framework was not
without challenges,” says Bethany Crist, nursing services manager, Parkview Huntington Hospital. “The initial rollouts were hindered by delays in integrating educational content on bedside tablets, staff resistance, and lack of resources for preliminary training. This gap led to a decrease in the intended use of these tools as staff struggled to recall training details,” she adds.
To combat these issues, we emphasized flexibility in using the tools. Alyssa Ehinger, manager of operations, Safe Sleep Simulation, says, “The application is designed to be adaptable, allowing healthcare providers to integrate safe sleep education into their interactions with parents creatively.” Whether demonstrating what can happen if a parent accidentally falls asleep holding their baby or discussing the dangers of loose blankets in cribs, the tools provide a versatile platform for impactful education.
Integration into Patient Care
"In the inpatient setting, the simulation dolls are primarily used during discharge education," explains Sara Vanauken, maternal child nurse navigator, Parkview Health. "This timing ensures that parents receive critical safe sleep information before they leave the hospital." Additionally, prenatal classes offered online through Parkview Health include safe sleep modules, ensuring that expectant parents are informed well before their baby's arrival.
"For home visits, these tools have become an essential part of the educational process," says King. The physical presence of the doll and the ability to manipulate it in different positions provides a powerful visual demonstration, reinforcing safe sleep messages more effectively than pamphlets alone."
Continuous Improvement and Future Goals
Our commitment to safe sleep education is ongoing as we continuously seek feedback and look for ways to improve our processes. As Kathleen Detweiler, director PCE and navigation, Parkview Women's and Children's Hospital, pointed out, “There’s always room for growth, particularly in finding strategies to help parents manage their baby’s crying without resorting to unsafe sleep practices.” While time constraints are a known issue, integrating this vital education into the standard care protocol ensures that every parent receives this potentially life-saving information.
Impact on the Community and Testimonials
The impact of our safe sleep simulation program is perhaps best illustrated through the testimonials of those who have experienced it firsthand. "Healthcare professionals like me have changed our long-held beliefs about safe sleep after using the simulation tools, underscoring the program’s effectiveness,” says Flora Parsley, RN, BSN, labor and delivery, Parkview Health. “Additionally, parents who have gone through the education process often express a better understanding and greater confidence in their ability to provide a safe sleep environment for their babies."
Since its implementation, the Safe Sleep Simulation toolkit has significantly impacted our community by providing caregivers with practical, easy-to-understand guidance on safe sleep practices. "We are committed to reducing the rates of infant sleep-related deaths and ensuring that every baby has a safer start in life. We achieve this by continuously addressing common misconceptions, offering innovative educational tools, and partnering with organizations focused on decreasing infant mortality, such as Cribs for Kids and Healthier Moms and Babies,” comments Ethel Massing, CEO of Safe Sleep Simulation.
Erin Spens, BSN RN, a public health nurse with the Virginia Department of Health, recently received one of our Safe Sleep Simulation toolkits. She shared her gratitude: "I have received the simulation baby, and it will be a fantastic addition to our educational efforts during home visits with clients, their families, and their babies. At New River Health District, we plan to use the simulation baby as an educational tool in the community during our BabyCare home visits. We are truly grateful!"
In conclusion, implementing the Safe Sleep Simulation at Parkview Hospital has been a transformative step in our mission to safeguard infant health. Through visual and hands-on education, we have empowered parents with the knowledge they need to make safer choices for their babies. As we continue to refine and expand this program, we remain committed to providing our community the highest standard of care and education.
References
1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, March 8). Data and statistics for SIDS and SUID. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/sids/data.htm
2. Chu T, Hackett M, Kaur N. Exploring caregiver behavior and knowledge about unsafe sleep surfaces in infant injury death cases. Health Educ Behav. 2015;42(3):293-301. doi:10.1177/1090198114547817.
3. Stiffler D, Ayres B, Fauvergue C, Cullen D. Sudden infant death and sleep practices in the Black community. J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2018;23:e12213. https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12213. Published February 25, 2018. Accessed January 17, 2020.
4. US Department of Health and Human Services. About 3,500 babies in the US are lost to sleep-related deaths each year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0109-sleep-related-deaths.html. Published January 9, 2018. Accessed September 14, 2020.
5. Rubin R. Despite educational campaigns, US infants are still dying due to unsafe sleep conditions. JAMA. 2018;319(24):2466-2468.doi:10.1001/jama.2018.6097.
6. Moon, R., Carlin, R., and Hand, I. Evidence Base for 2022 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment to Reduce the Risk of Sleep-Related Infant Deaths. Amer Acad Peds. 2022; 150(1): 1-47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057991
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