Training activity information
Details
Prepare patients and perform PSG
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Patient centred care and support
- Local, national and international guidelines
- Evidence based practice
- Documentation
- Patient identity and safety
- Patient history
- Equipment and environmental conditions
- Electrode and sensor placement according to criteria
- Patient and carer experience
- Communication skills
- Scope of practice
- Range of control setting and continuous review
- Recording parameters
- Patient positioning and compliance
- Artefact management
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What does it mean to effectively prepare a patient for and perform a PSG under guidance? What are the key steps involved in preparing a patient for a PSG, from initial explanation to electrode application?
- Consider the practical skills you hope to develop in preparing a patient and setting up the equipment for a PSG. Think about your current understanding of the PSG procedure and what practical aspects you want to gain more experience with (e.g., sensor placement). What challenges might you encounter when preparing a patient for a PSG, and how do you anticipate learning to overcome them?
- Discuss the specific steps and protocols for preparing patients and performing PSG with the sleep physiologist who will be guiding you. Consider any patient-specific factors that might influence the preparation process and how you will address them (e.g., communication needs, anxiety). Review any relevant guidelines or local procedures for PSG preparation and performance. You might also review the academic content on electrode and sensor placement.
In action
- Pay attention to your actions as you prepare the patient for the PSG (e.g., explaining the procedure, applying electrodes) and during the initial stages of performing the test. How are you interacting with the patient? Why are you placing the sensors in a specific order or location? What decisions are you making as you prepare the patient and initiate the recording? Are you adjusting your approach based on the patient’s responses or comfort levels? What aspects of patient preparation and initial PSG setup feel more natural, and what requires more concentration?
- How effective are your actions in preparing the patient for the PSG and initiating the recording smoothly (as related to learning outcome 6: Perform PSG and MSLT with guidance from a sleep physiologist)? What challenges are you facing during patient preparation or the start of the recording (e.g., patient anxiety, technical issues)? What are you learning about patient interaction and the practicalities of PSG setup as you perform the activity? How does this practical experience connect with your knowledge of PSG procedures and patient care?
- Are there alternative ways you could explain the procedure or position the sensors if the initial approach is not working well for the patient? What immediate support or guidance might you need from the sleep physiologist if you encounter difficulties? Are you ensuring you are following local procedures for PSG preparation and performance?
On action
- What were the key steps involved in preparing the patient for the PSG procedure? How did the patient respond to the preparation process and the application of electrodes/sensors? What technical aspects of performing the PSG (e.g., equipment setup, monitoring) stood out during the activity? Were there any specific patient interactions or events that were particularly memorable or challenging? What aspects of performing PSG were most relevant?
- What did you learn about effectively communicating with patients before and during a PSG? What practical skills related to PSG preparation and performance did you develop or improve? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes encountered while performing the PSG? What did you learn from these? How did the experience of performing the PSG align with your theoretical understanding of the procedure?
- What areas for continued development have been identified in your ability to prepare patients and perform PSG? How will you apply the skills and knowledge gained from this experience to future PSG procedures? What specific actions or ‘next steps’ will you take to enhance your practical skills in performing PSG? What support or guidance might you seek to further develop your proficiency in this area?
Beyond action
- Have you reviewed your initial reflections on preparing patients and performing PSG in light of subsequent PSG experiences or other patient interactions? Have you compared your experiences performing PSG with your experiences performing MSLT? What similarities or differences in patient preparation and technical execution now stand out? Did discussing your PSG experiences with peers or senior colleagues lead to any re-evaluation of your approach or understanding of the procedure? How has your understanding of performing PSG evolved since this training activity?
- How has the practical experience of performing PSG influenced your current approach to patient preparation for other neurophysiology procedures? Have you identified specific techniques or communication strategies you now routinely use during patient preparation for any procedure that were refined through your PSG experience? Considering your experiences with interpreting sleep studies, how has your firsthand knowledge of performing a PSG informed your understanding of the data and potential artefacts? Have the skills in adapting to the situation during a PSG (reflect-in-action) influenced your ability to handle unexpected issues during other clinical tasks?
- How will your practical experience in PSG contribute to your ability to troubleshoot technical issues or mentor colleagues in performing PSG in the future? What aspects of patient interaction and communication during PSG preparation and performance will you continue to develop and apply in more complex patient scenarios? As you potentially take on more independent practice, how will the foundational skills gained in performing PSG enable you to adapt to different equipment or local protocols?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 5 |
Outcome
Prepare, and plan for the following sleep investigations polysomnography (PSG) and multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT). |
| # 6 |
Outcome
Perform PSG and MSLT with guidance from a sleep physiologist. |