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Gaining an Empathetic Insight into Parenting: Evaluating Infant Simulator Dolls for Professional Learning
Lisa Whiting1, Julia Petty2, Sheila Roberts3
1DHRes, is professional lead for children's nursing and associate dean of research, Department of Nursing, Health and Wellbeing, School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK.
Infant simulator dolls enhanced empathy in social work and children's nursing students. Despite challenges, students gained valuable insights into parenting, improving their ability to support families empathetically.
Area of Science:
- Pedagogy
- Social Work Education
- Nursing Education
Background:
- Developing empathy is crucial for social work and children's nursing professionals.
- Opportunities for students to develop empathetic skills in parenting contexts are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the use of infant simulator dolls for enhancing students' empathetic understanding of parenting.
- To explore social work and children's nursing students' experiences with infant simulators in professional learning.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative evaluation study using semistructured interviews with 21 students (10 social work, 11 children's nursing).
- Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyze interview data.
Main Results:
- Six key themes emerged: positive experiences, challenges, impact on self, empathy toward parents, realism, and learning by reflection.
- Participants reported positive impacts on their empathetic understanding of parenting, despite practical and technical challenges.
- The infant simulator experience was valued for enhancing learning and potentially improving future professional practice.
Conclusions:
- Infant simulator dolls offer a valuable tool for developing empathy in social work and children's nursing students.
- The use of these simulators can enhance students' ability to support parents more sensitively and empathetically.
- Addressing practical challenges is important to maximize the benefits of infant simulator training.
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