International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background and aim:

Practice based learning (PBL) remains a universal mandatory experience for physiotherapy students. Challenges of placement capacity were heightened by the impact of COVID 19 as well as growing demand in response to the NHS long term plan/interim people plan for growth in AHP workforce. These challenges provided opportunity to rapidly progress sustainable PBL capacity utilizing simulation as replacement and enhancement of PBL.

Having established simulation as placement replacement within the Faculty of Health & Wellbeing at University of Winchester [1], the simulated placement preparation (SPP) project aimed to explore the acceptability of simulation as preparatory enhancement of PBL, delivering a week of multilevel peer assisted simulated PBL; two primary objectives of reducing demand on capacity and optimizing students’ success in PBL through preparatory simulated activities.

Activity:

Simulation and learning focused on the development of digital capabilities in recognition of the Topol review that reflected the requirements of NHS workforce to be digitally capable [2]. Additionally, the KNOWSBEST study [3] recommended digital capability and simulation within PBL, thus simulated activities were designed to promote core digital capabilities including training and simulation in remote consultations and presenting simulated scenarios accessed via electronic patient records.

Collaborative learning in practice (CLiP) model of supervision was used to promote peer assisted learning with learning outcomes focused on communication and MDT domains of the common placement assessment form (CPAF), familiarization with digital technologies and orientation and management of scenarios in high acuity environments and enhancement of digital capabilities. The SPP week utilized mixed modality and fidelity simulated activities including ‘real play’ remote consultations, simulated patients, manikins/ventilators and virtual simulations.

Students completed faculty developed questionnaires pre and post SPP relating to self-assessed communication and telehealth capability and specific clinical competence in musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory physiotherapy. A convenience sample of students participated in focus group interviews following subsequent completion of PBL to explore their perceived impact of SPP on subsequent PBL. Thematic analysis was used to analyse focus group interviews and pre-post anaylsis conducted using repeated measures ANOVA.

Findings:

Results demonstrated increased capabilities in teleconsultation and appreciation of digital technologies potential. Students reported enhancement of in person and remote communication as well as clinical capabilities in high acuity environments.

Conclusion:

Students reported the SPP week as an acceptable means of replacing one week of PBL, enhancing the preparedness for clinical environments and sustainably increasing placement capacity by providing 4440 hours of simulated PBL.

Ethics statement:

Authors confirm that all relevant ethical standards for research conduct and dissemination have been met. The submitting author confirms that relevant ethical approval was granted, if applicable.