Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation
Background: Standardised patient (SP) simulation can significantly enrich the learning environment in health professions education. Simulation in optometry has yet to be widely adopted, especially in Africa, prompting this study to investigate whether students perceived the use of SP simulation in o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-12-01
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| Series: | African Vision and Eye Health |
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| Online Access: | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/964 |
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| author | Elzana Kempen Mathys J. Labuschagne Mpho P. Jama |
| author_facet | Elzana Kempen Mathys J. Labuschagne Mpho P. Jama |
| author_sort | Elzana Kempen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Standardised patient (SP) simulation can significantly enrich the learning environment in health professions education. Simulation in optometry has yet to be widely adopted, especially in Africa, prompting this study to investigate whether students perceived the use of SP simulation in optometry education as an effective method for enhancing the development and refinement of core competency skills.
Aim: This study aimed to determine optometry students’ perceptions of simulation learning experiences with a SP.
Setting: This study was done at the Department of Optometry at the University of the Free State, South Africa
Methods: A qualitative case study was undertaken. All 17 final-year optometry students (n = 17) were invited to participate. Data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire. Content analysis was used to analyse the experiences and perceptions of the participants.
Results: The response rate was 100%. The students perceived that the educational objectives of the simulation experiences were successfully achieved. They felt that the simulation helped them develop core competencies like professionalism and communication while boosting their confidence. They attributed this success to the realistic, appropriate and safe learning environment that the simulation provided.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that optometry students perceive SP simulations as a valuable tool in preparing them for private practice. This study highlighted the effectiveness of SP-based training in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world practice.
Contribution: This study is the first in South Africa to explore optometry students’ preparation for private practice through SP simulation. The findings offer insights that can guide other optometry programs using SPs to support students’ holistic development, enhancing their professionalism and readiness for practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b383c4a61ca47be8cbb8cd562afad20 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2413-3183 2410-1516 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Vision and Eye Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9b383c4a61ca47be8cbb8cd562afad202025-08-20T02:49:12ZengAOSISAfrican Vision and Eye Health2413-31832410-15162024-12-01831e1e910.4102/aveh.v83i1.964613Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulationElzana Kempen0Mathys J. Labuschagne1Mpho P. Jama2Division of Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Student Learning and Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: Standardised patient (SP) simulation can significantly enrich the learning environment in health professions education. Simulation in optometry has yet to be widely adopted, especially in Africa, prompting this study to investigate whether students perceived the use of SP simulation in optometry education as an effective method for enhancing the development and refinement of core competency skills. Aim: This study aimed to determine optometry students’ perceptions of simulation learning experiences with a SP. Setting: This study was done at the Department of Optometry at the University of the Free State, South Africa Methods: A qualitative case study was undertaken. All 17 final-year optometry students (n = 17) were invited to participate. Data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire. Content analysis was used to analyse the experiences and perceptions of the participants. Results: The response rate was 100%. The students perceived that the educational objectives of the simulation experiences were successfully achieved. They felt that the simulation helped them develop core competencies like professionalism and communication while boosting their confidence. They attributed this success to the realistic, appropriate and safe learning environment that the simulation provided. Conclusion: The findings suggest that optometry students perceive SP simulations as a valuable tool in preparing them for private practice. This study highlighted the effectiveness of SP-based training in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world practice. Contribution: This study is the first in South Africa to explore optometry students’ preparation for private practice through SP simulation. The findings offer insights that can guide other optometry programs using SPs to support students’ holistic development, enhancing their professionalism and readiness for practice.https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/964simulationoptometry educationpractice readinesscore competenciesqualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Elzana Kempen Mathys J. Labuschagne Mpho P. Jama Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation African Vision and Eye Health simulation optometry education practice readiness core competencies qualitative research |
| title | Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| title_full | Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| title_fullStr | Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| title_short | Optometry students’ views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| title_sort | optometry students views on preparing for private practice via standardised patient simulation |
| topic | simulation optometry education practice readiness core competencies qualitative research |
| url | https://avehjournal.org/index.php/aveh/article/view/964 |
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