TRACHES Toolkit: A Report on the Creation and Implementation of a Novel Digital Educational toolkit for Tracheostomy Care in Wales

Abstract

In the United Kingdom, more than 17,000 patients per year require a tracheostomy, of whom up to 30% will experience some form of avoidable harm. Education is key to supporting healthcare professionals in caring for people with a tracheostomy. However, delivering standardised education at a national level is challenging. In response to this challenge, we developed and implemented a ‘TRACHES toolkit’ for utilisation across all acute hospitals in Wales, United Kingdom. The toolkit is an online resource including tutorials, a Checklist poster, case-based assessments, certification, National Tracheostomy Safety Project resources, and webinars on various topics. The toolkit was implemented in August 2020 utilising implementation science methodology. Since then, the content has been accessed 19,183 times by 976 healthcare professionals across NHS Wales, with representation from the multi-professional workforce. As of December 2023, 471 healthcare professionals had completed the online competency across Wales. Further work is now underway to demonstrate the impact of the Toolkit on patient outcomes. Additionally, future developments aim to incorporate education on community care for adults with a tracheostomy and for children in both hospital and community settings.