Investigating the Effectiveness of Using a Situated Simulation-Based Program to Improve Occupational Therapy Students' Interactions and Observation Skills with Children

Purpose

Interaction and observation are critical skills for occupational therapists who work with pediatric clients. The objective of this study was to investigate whether using standardized child patients within a situated simulation-based (SSB) program increases students' knowledge and clinical skills when working with children in occupational therapy.

Materials and Methods

This controlled trial with multiple measures recruited students from the pediatric occupational therapy curriculum enrolled in an SSB program in consecutive academic years (n = 62). Experimental group students participated in a simulation experience with video training sessions, followed by an SSB exam with standardized child patients; the control group performed the video training simultaneously. Quantitative outcomes included quizzes to measure clinical knowledge, video training scores, and a situated simulation exam to assess clinical skills.

Results

The experimental group had a significantly higher postwritten quiz scores than the control group; the video training scores were not significantly different between groups. Linear regression analysis showed a significant association between the SSB exam and postwritten quiz scores (β = 0.487, p = 0.017). The experimental group had a total pass rate of 65.6% for the SSB exam. The communication and interaction pass rate was 53.1%; the basic evaluation rate was 68.8%, implying that communication/interaction skills are hard to simulate from video training alone; therefore, the authentic fidelity of the SSB program needs to improve further to enhance learning.

Conclusions

The SSB program with standardized child patients improved students' clinical knowledge and skills more than lectures and practice alone. Using standardized child patients in programs or exams appears to positively influence students' performance. Situated simulation-based learning that allows the realistic practice of observation and communication skills may enhance students' clinical competency. Future research should develop standard training methods and evaluation processes in high-fidelity simulations for generalized use in other occupational therapy programs.

Learning occupational therapy practice using standardised patients in a practical examination - experiences of students and teachers

BACKGROUND

The use of simulated learning activities in occupational therapy education has emerged in the past decade. Studies describing experiences of using standardised patients in practical examination in occupational therapy is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To describe teachers' and students' experiences of a newly implemented practical examination in occupational therapy education using standardised patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A qualitative study using data from student questionnaires, a focus-group with five teachers, and teachers' reflective diary notes. Data were analysed with problem-driven content analysis.

RESULTS

Three categories were identified: The practical examination as a learning situation included a structured learning environment and scenarios with standardised patients with the right level of complexity. The teacher's role was influenced by the educational approach applied to create equal conditions for all students, students' thoughts about being assessed and the teachers' emphasis of being well prepared. The examination was an opportunity for developing practical skills. The students valued being prepared for clinical practice and the teachers valued the examination as a bridge between theory and practice.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

A carefully planned practical examination can contribute to developing professional occupational therapy competences and is a tool for educators to replicate the authentic clinical settings students encounter in fieldwork.

The use of simulation in occupational therapy education: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Simulated learning experiences are a common feature of many health professions' pre-registration curricula. However, the use of simulation within occupational therapy is still largely undefined. This scoping review seeks to identify and summarise the available evidence exploring the use of simulation within occupational therapy pre-registration education.

METHODS

A search was conducted in four databases for articles published between 2009 and 2020 to identify international literature relevant to the use of simulation within occupational therapy education. Articles were evaluated using the appropriate Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool and key features and benefits of current simulation education were identified using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 32 papers were included within the review. Four themes were identified and explored: simulation methods, authenticity, global approaches to simulation, and relationship to practice education.

CONCLUSION

Simulation is taking place in many different forms within occupational therapy internationally. It is positively received by students and may provide an effective replacement for practice education if focussed on professional standards and competencies. Further research into the potential effectiveness of simulation in relation to practice learning is indicated.

Understanding the impact of simulated patients on health care learners' communication skills: a systematic review

CONTEXT

Effective communication skills are at the core of good health care. Simulated patients (SPs) are increasingly engaged as an interactive means of teaching, applying and practising communication skills with immediate feedback. There is a large body of research into the use of manikin-based simulation but a gap exists in the body of research on the effectiveness of SP-based education to teach communication skills that impact patient outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to critically analyse the existing research, investigating whether SP-based communication skills training improves learner-patient communication, how communication skill improvement is measured, and who measures these improvements.

METHODS

The databases Medline, ProQuest (Health & Medical Complete, Nursing and Allied Health Source) and CINAHL (EBSCOhost) Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC) were searched for articles that investigated the effects of SP-based education on the communication skills of medical, nursing and allied health learners.

RESULTS

There were 60 studies included in the review. Only two studies reported direct patient outcomes, one reporting some negative impact, and no studies included an economic analysis. Many studies reported statistically significant third-party ratings of improved communication effectiveness following SP-based education; however, studies were unable to be pooled for meta-analysis because of the outcome collection methods. There were a small number of studies comparing SP with no training at all and there were no differences between communication skills, contradicting the results from studies reporting benefits. Of the 60 studies included for analysis, 54 (90%) met the minimum quality score of 7/11, with four articles (7%) scoring 11/11.

CONCLUSION

SP-based education is widely accepted as a valuable and effective means of teaching communication skills but there is limited evidence of how this translates to patient outcomes and no indication of economic benefit for this type of training over another method.