A/Prof. Mary Wyer1,2,3, Doctor Patricia E. Ferguson1,3,4
1NSW Biocontainment Centre, Westmead, Australia, 2Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, 3Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, 4Infectious Diseases, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
Biography:
Dr Mary Wyer is A/Professor of Practice (Biocontainment) at the University of Sydney, who advances biocontainment models through research, education, and clinical collaboration.
Dr Trish Ferguson is an infectious diseases physician and Associate Director (Education and Training) at the NSW Biocontainment Centre, leading multidisciplinary preparedness for high-consequence infectious diseases.
Abstract:
Introduction
The NSW Biocontainment Centre (NBC) is a purpose-built facility for managing high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID) such as viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHF). Although never activated for an HCID VHF case, readiness is assessed through simulation exercises. In March 2025, a 24-hour simulation was conducted to test systems and explore patient experience. This abstract focuses on the latter.
Methods
A stable ward inpatient consented to act as a patient with Ebola, in one of our quarantine rooms. The patient's usual care was provided, but staff enacted biocontainment protocols to deliver this care; for example, wearing high-level PPE and following strict decontamination procedures for equipment/waste exiting the room. Selected activities were video-recorded, including positioning a video-recorder at the head of the patient’s bed, allowing footage to be captured from his point-of-view. The following day, video clips were shown to the patient to prompt reflection. This session was audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.
Results
Five themes emerged: emotional responses, communication challenges, perceptions of realism, environmental stressors, and suggestions for improvement. Despite the simulated context, the patient engaged deeply and offered insights not previously considered by staff. The use of video-reflexive methods was instrumental in helping the patient articulate his experience, providing a rich, first-person perspective.
Conclusions
This study contributes to the limited literature on patient experience in biocontainment settings and demonstrates the value of video-reflexive methods in eliciting meaningful feedback. Findings will inform staff training and protocol development. Future simulations could include paediatric patients, family-centred care, and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations.