Use of simulated patients and reflective video analysis to assess occupational therapy students' preparedness for fieldwork.
Educators must determine whether occupational therapy students are adequately prepared for Level II fieldwork once they have successfully completed the didactic portion of their coursework. Although studies have shown that students regard the use of video cameras and simulated patient encounters as useful tools for assessing professional and clinical behaviors, little has been published in the occupational therapy literature regarding the practical application of simulated patients or reflective video analysis. We describe a model for a final Comprehensive Practical Exam that uses both simulated patients and reflective video analysis to assess student preparedness for Level II fieldwork, and we report on student perceptions of these instructional modalities. We provide recommendations for designing, implementing, and evaluating simulated patient experiences in light of existing educational theory.
Amanda K. Giles, MS, OTR/L, is Instructor, Occupational Therapy, Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, 151 Rutledge Avenue, Building B, MSC 962, Charleston, SC 29425; gilesak@musc.edu.
Amanda K
AK
Giles
Nancy E. Carson, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Hazel L. Breland, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, is Associate Professor; and Peter J. Bowman, OTD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Nancy E
NE
Carson
Nancy E. Carson, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Hazel L. Breland, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, is Associate Professor; and Peter J. Bowman, OTD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Hazel L
HL
Breland
Nancy E. Carson, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Hazel L. Breland, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, is Associate Professor; and Peter J. Bowman, OTD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Patty
P
Coker-Bolt
Nancy E. Carson, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Hazel L. Breland, PhD, is Assistant Professor; Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, is Associate Professor; and Peter J. Bowman, OTD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Peter J
PJ
Bowman