Student Perceptions of Simulation to Enhance Clinical Readiness for Assessment and Management of Adults With Voice Disorders.

Background: Simulation is a safe, supported, and accessible learning method for students to gain skills and experience, especially in difficult to access range of practice areas such as voice.
Objective: The study aimed to explore change in students' perceptions of knowledge, confidence, anxiety, and clinical readiness for assessment and management of an adult with a voice disorder after participation in simulation-based learning activities.
Methods: Participants (N = 113) were students enrolled in a mandatory course dedicated to the voice and voice disorders. Students completed 32 hours of academic coursework which included lectures and tutorials and two 30-minute simulation-based learning activities with a standardized patient playing the role of an adult with a voice disorder. The impact of the simulation-based learning activities on student perceptions of their knowledge, confidence, anxiety, and clinical readiness for work within the area of voice were surveyed at three time points: (1) pre lectures, (2) post lectures but pre simulation, and (3) post simulation. Change across time was analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni adjustment.
Results: All students perceived significant (P ≤ 0.001) positive changes in knowledge and confidence across time points for all activities, except for writing an assessment report. Anxiety related to the management of a client with a voice disorder fluctuated significantly (P ≤ 0.001) throughout the program. Overall, the majority (>90%) of students agreed or strongly agreed that the simulation-based learning activities were useful and helped them to develop clinical skills, apply content taught in lectures, and gain confidence and interest in voice.
Conclusion: This study supports incorporation of simulation-based learning as part of students' clinical preparation for the assessment and management of voice disorders.
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