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Innovations in preparing students for placement: student perceptions of an interprofessional simulation week

Innovations in preparing students for placement: student perceptions of an interprofessional simulation week
Innovations in preparing students for placement: student perceptions of an interprofessional simulation week
Purpose and aims: the COVID pandemic and the growing number of institutions offering allied health professions courses has increased the pressure on placement capacity (Clarke et al 2021). Consequently, institutions must explore innovative ways to ensure students complete placement hours and develop their professional and communication skills. One solution is simulation-based learning (Salter et al 2020, Imms et al 2018). Understanding student experience of this learning modality can inform future programme design, ensuring student learning needs are met (Aguilera- Hermida 2020). This research evaluates how a simulation programme prepared occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry students at the University of Southampton for their first clinical placement.

Design and methods: a mixed-methods design was used, with only qualitative findings with a focus on communication, confidence and interpersonal skill development presented here. A self-selected group of 29 students completed the week-long simulation programme with actor role players as patients and carers in three inter-professional multidisciplinary case studies. Of these students, 11 participated across two focus groups mid-way through a five-week placement. These were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The project was funded by Health Education England.

Results: students reported improved communication as the simulations enabled them to practise building rapport, trial using different phrases and tailor their communication. Although some students found taking a turn stressful, particularly initially, they felt their confidence grew, with several students finding the week particularly transformative.

Conclusion: a week-long simulation-based programme can increase students’ perceived confidence and improve their communication before their first clinical placement.
0308-0226
Rossiter, Laura
09f691e1-20ab-4675-98cc-069a27b77320
Turk, Ruth
9bb21965-6f9f-4c9c-8505-94df8e168f52
Grimmett, Chloe
7f27e85b-2850-481d-a7dd-2835e1a925cd
Judd, Belinda
54a5f7e6-6600-4357-ade4-363e7cbc7624
Brentnall, Jennie
9f74b1ed-41bb-4460-9cd7-de29b561cd98
Cowley, Emma
51301378-6b0c-4e3d-ab2a-037485c40275
Dadswell, Rachel
87e305ff-e12e-4214-b575-134b95089bf6
Mccormick, Keith
95d56eea-74aa-4b48-b950-ab8207e57d08
Thackray, Deborah
4336a819-2b42-42bd-863b-2b074b977522
Rossiter, Laura
09f691e1-20ab-4675-98cc-069a27b77320
Turk, Ruth
9bb21965-6f9f-4c9c-8505-94df8e168f52
Grimmett, Chloe
7f27e85b-2850-481d-a7dd-2835e1a925cd
Judd, Belinda
54a5f7e6-6600-4357-ade4-363e7cbc7624
Brentnall, Jennie
9f74b1ed-41bb-4460-9cd7-de29b561cd98
Cowley, Emma
51301378-6b0c-4e3d-ab2a-037485c40275
Dadswell, Rachel
87e305ff-e12e-4214-b575-134b95089bf6
Mccormick, Keith
95d56eea-74aa-4b48-b950-ab8207e57d08
Thackray, Deborah
4336a819-2b42-42bd-863b-2b074b977522

Rossiter, Laura, Turk, Ruth, Grimmett, Chloe, Judd, Belinda, Brentnall, Jennie, Cowley, Emma, Dadswell, Rachel, Mccormick, Keith and Thackray, Deborah (2022) Innovations in preparing students for placement: student perceptions of an interprofessional simulation week. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 85 (8S), [S43.1]. (doi:10.1177/03080226221113754).

Record type: Meeting abstract

Abstract

Purpose and aims: the COVID pandemic and the growing number of institutions offering allied health professions courses has increased the pressure on placement capacity (Clarke et al 2021). Consequently, institutions must explore innovative ways to ensure students complete placement hours and develop their professional and communication skills. One solution is simulation-based learning (Salter et al 2020, Imms et al 2018). Understanding student experience of this learning modality can inform future programme design, ensuring student learning needs are met (Aguilera- Hermida 2020). This research evaluates how a simulation programme prepared occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry students at the University of Southampton for their first clinical placement.

Design and methods: a mixed-methods design was used, with only qualitative findings with a focus on communication, confidence and interpersonal skill development presented here. A self-selected group of 29 students completed the week-long simulation programme with actor role players as patients and carers in three inter-professional multidisciplinary case studies. Of these students, 11 participated across two focus groups mid-way through a five-week placement. These were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. The project was funded by Health Education England.

Results: students reported improved communication as the simulations enabled them to practise building rapport, trial using different phrases and tailor their communication. Although some students found taking a turn stressful, particularly initially, they felt their confidence grew, with several students finding the week particularly transformative.

Conclusion: a week-long simulation-based programme can increase students’ perceived confidence and improve their communication before their first clinical placement.

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More information

Published date: 20 July 2022

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 473552
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/473552
ISSN: 0308-0226
PURE UUID: 20ddf799-0829-4419-ab31-7f1c30045027
ORCID for Ruth Turk: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6332-5353
ORCID for Chloe Grimmett: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7540-7206
ORCID for Emma Cowley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4486-9037
ORCID for Deborah Thackray: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0004-1883-0739

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Date deposited: 23 Jan 2023 17:47
Last modified: 18 May 2024 02:00

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Contributors

Author: Laura Rossiter
Author: Ruth Turk ORCID iD
Author: Chloe Grimmett ORCID iD
Author: Belinda Judd
Author: Jennie Brentnall
Author: Emma Cowley ORCID iD
Author: Rachel Dadswell
Author: Keith Mccormick

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