A conceptual framework for simulation in healthcare education - The need

This study used a social constructivist approach to explore the literature in relation to the acknowledgment and application of models and frameworks in simulation based learning and teaching activities in health care education. This paper addresses the data collection phases in the research design in developing a Conceptual Framework for Simulation in Healthcare Education.

Two literature review activities occurred in the study. The first literature review explored the challenges in the literature for further research in relation to the educational factors that have an impact upon simulation as a learning and teaching modality. This part of the research process was to identify the publications that address simulation as a learning and teaching modality and uncover evidence to justify the study. The literature revealed that there were limited publications in relation to simulation as a learning and teaching modality that was underpinned by a conceptual framework.

The study research design employed Evaluation Research to conduct a further intensive review of the literature as part of phase one of data collection. The second part of phase one of data collection was the surveying of randomly selected simulation education centres around the world to ascertain their employment of a conceptual framework in the application of simulation as a learning and teaching modality. Phase two was the genesis of the conceptual framework and Phase three was the evaluation of the draft framework using a modified Delphi Technique by randomly selected simulation experts.

The intensive literature review highlighted that authors acknowledged education-based theories but this did not extend to the application of a conceptual framework to simulation as a learning and teaching modality. The survey provided the evidence to support the development of a Conceptual Framework for Simulation in Healthcare Education for the conceptualisation, design, development and delivery of simulation teaching and learning activities in health care education. The simulation experts provided valuable data and commentary in the final formation of the conceptual framework.

Based on the outcomes of the literature review, questionnaire and modified Delphi Technique the need for the development, and subsequent structure and utility of the Conceptual Framework for Simulation in Healthcare Education was verified.