Human Patient Simulation: Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions

Human patient simulation uses technology to add advancements to learning that traditional learning methods cannot. Many programs are fast-paced and do not provide students with many hands-on experiences before clinical experiences. The literature notes the benefits of human patient simulation in other healthcare programs, yet limited studies exist in occupational therapy. This study examined student perspectives on the use of human patient simulators in occupational therapy curriculum. 146 first year master of occupational therapy students completed an open-ended survey after an evaluation experience with a physiologically based human patient simulator. Responses were collected during four consecutive years. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Four themes emerged and centered on the value of hands-on learning, team and family dynamics, the human experience, and relevance of clinically applicable skills. Findings indicate that students perceive this type of learning as beneficial before taking the next step towards fieldwork, and programs should consider offering a variety of simulated patient cases throughout the curriculum