'A safe place for developing skills': Stakeholder perspectives on simulation-based learning in occupational therapy...

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy education
• Healthcare simulation
• Pedagogical innovation

Background:

• Explored stakeholder views on simulation-based learning (SBL) in European occupational therapy programs.
• Investigated SBL's potential as a teaching, learning, and assessment tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine stakeholder perspectives on simulation-based learning (SBL) in occupational therapy education.
• To assess the suitability and challenges of SBL for developing professional competencies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving five focus groups across Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, and Turkey.
• 35 stakeholders participated in the study, with thematic analysis of transcripts.

Main Results:

• Identified key occupational therapy competencies suitable for SBL.
• Highlighted perceived educational value, rationale, and challenges (logistical, institutional, pedagogical) of SBL implementation.
• Revealed diverse stakeholder experiences and perceptions of SBL methodologies.

Conclusions:

• SBL is relevant for enhancing professional competencies in occupational therapy education.
• Context-specific insights from diverse systems were gained, though generalizability is limited.
• Successful SBL integration necessitates adequate resources, facilitator training, and strategic planning.