A Systematic Review of Measuring the Effectiveness of Simulation: A PT Educators’ Toolbox
Purpose:
The purpose of this platform is to discuss a systematic review that identifies reliable, valid, and salient tools that measure changes with simulated learning experiences in healthcare education. These findings are intended to support physical therapy educators’ assessments of simulated learning experiences.
Description:
Simulated learning experiences (SLEs) are highly valued and used extensively in healthcare education programs.1-3 SLEs are designed at different levels of fidelity5 depending on the patient or settings. For example, low fidelity SLEs use lab partners to act out scripts, while high fidelity SLEs use standardized patients or paid actors. Low fidelity SLEs also occur in traditional classrooms, while high fidelity SLEs occur in real-world settings. In physical therapy education, SLEs can substitute for part of a student physical therapist’s clinical education4; despite accreditation regulations and level of fidelity of the SLE.5,6
SLEs also have other variables to consider. First, SLEs may be offered repeatedly in a curriculum, or completed only at specific times in a curriculum. For example, SLE research studies have focused on first-year health education students, while other studies focused on final-year students.7,8 Second, SLEs may be used to measure a variety of different skills and competencies. Soft skills, clinical skills, and interprofessional competencies have all been well studied.1-5, 7, 8
Although many studies report positive changes with SLEs1-5, 7,8, there is a lack of organization and understanding of reliable, valid, and salient assessment tools of SLEs. For the physical therapy educator, this lack of organization and understanding may limit how SLEs are designed, implemented, and assessed. Systematic reviews are a recognized means of organizing existing literature findings that can support best practice. For the physical therapy educator, a systematic review of SLE measurement tools9, 10 can assist with curricular maps, course and program outcomes when implemented using the latest evidence.
Summary of Use:
For this platform, a systematic review of eight PubMed/Medline searches using relevant search terms, like MeSH terms, and strategies of Boolean phrases, and keywords is presented. Initially, there were 361 articles identified using this strategy. The authors then selected 122 of these articles based on the title. Of these remaining articles, a review of each abstract was completed resulting in 50 articles for full-text review. The PT Educators’ Toolbox will highlight these results.
Importance to Members:
This platform is designed to present the results of a systematic review for physical therapy educators interested in assessment tools for SLEs. Also, the PT educators’ toolbox will highlight potential research opportunities for new tool development.