Simulations as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions: A scoping review to guide planning in speech-language pathology and audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Nabeelah Nagdee, Ben Sebothoma, Milka Madahana and 2 others
PMID 36073069WHAT IT FOUND
Simulation training builds confidence and clinical skills for healthcare students, but it is not a substitute for real patient contact.
Speech-language pathology evidence is almost non-existent, so use simulation only to supplement, not replace, traditional clinical placements.
Key findings
01Simulation training enhances clinical competence, confidence, and self-efficacy in healthcare professions, particularly when using high-fidelity scenarios.
02There is a significant gap in evidence for speech-language pathology and audiology, with only one included study addressing these fields and focusing on interprofessional reasoning rather than core clinical skills.
03Virtual reality and telesimulation are feasible alternatives during disruptions like the pandemic but are preferred as preparatory tools; students still favour traditional clinical training for acquiring skills.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Only four of the 32 studies were conducted in low- and middle-income countries, limiting generalisability to resource-constrained settings like South Africa. The review includes only one study directly relevant to speech-language pathology, making conclusions about its efficacy in this specific field weak. Most studies were conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, so the evidence on virtual and telesimulation may not fully reflect current hybrid training realities. The review did not include grey literature, potentially missing unpublished or non-indexed training programmes.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume simulation training is proven effective for speech-language pathology clinical skills. The evidence base for this discipline is virtually non-existent, with only one study included that did not measure core therapy competencies.