Using human simulation to prepare physical therapy students for acute care clinical practice

Area of Science:

• Physical Therapy Education
• Acute Care Training
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• The acute care setting demands specialized skills for healthcare professionals, including Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students.
• Effective preparation is crucial for DPT students entering acute care clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utility of high-fidelity human simulation (HFHS) in a DPT program.
• To assess the achievement of learning objectives for acute care preparation using HFHS.
• To evaluate DPT students' preparedness for acute care following simulation training.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-three DPT students underwent a HFHS acute care experience.
• Student feedback was collected to validate the learning experience.
• Surveys were administered to assess preparedness, with descriptive statistics used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Students achieved learning objectives in interprofessional communication, treatment environment preparation, patient safety, and discharge planning.
• 91.5% reported increased confidence in interprofessional communication; 67% felt more knowledgeable about discharge disposition.
• All students supported integrating simulation into the curriculum, with 95.2% finding it valuable for clinical practice preparation.

Conclusions:

• HFHS training successfully met educational objectives for DPT students in an acute care context.
• Simulation enhanced learning integration and understanding of the acute care environment.
• Findings support further research into simulation's effectiveness for preparing DPT students for acute care.