Simulating age-related limitations among students and health professionals: a scoping review

The use of simulation in health training has increased significantly in recent years. In geriatrics/gerontology, the simulation of age-related limitations enables users to experience the functional and sensory limitations that older people live with. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and describe studies exploring the effects of age-simulation on students and health professionals. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Eric databases using key words related to health simulation and gerontology. Articles in English or French published after 2000 were considered. Two researchers independently selected and analysed all the studies. The characteristics of the simulations, the student and professional cohorts involved, the measurement tools used, and the effects of the ageing-simulation experience are described. From 428 references obtained using the search terms, 13 studies were included. These studies were conducted between 2001 and 2019 and were mainly from the United States. A variety of simulations were conducted. Four studies reported a positive effect of the experiment on participants' empathy towards older people. An effect on attitudes was noted in six studies, with varying results. We conclude that educational workshops to simulate difficulties in carrying out daily activities may improve empathy towards older people among students and care professionals. The effects of this approach on caring attitudes were varied and should be explored further.