G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)
Simulaatio-oppiminen fysioterapeuttikoulutuksessa : monimenetelmällinen tutkimus (2025)
Simulation learning in physiotherapy education : a multi-method study


Haapakoski, M. (2025). Simulaatio-oppiminen fysioterapeuttikoulutuksessa : monimenetelmällinen tutkimus [Doctoral dissertation]. Jyväskylän yliopisto. JYU Dissertations, 872. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0471-6


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Haapakoski, Minna

eISBN: 978-952-86-0471-6

Journal or series: JYU Dissertations

eISSN: 2489-9003

Publication year: 2025

Number in series: 872

Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (134 sivua)

Publisher: Jyväskylän yliopisto

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: Finnish

Persistent website address: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0471-6

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel


Abstract

The purpose of the study was to describe how simulation learning was used in physiotherapy and occupational therapy education and to create a substantive theory of simulation learning in physiotherapy education. In addition, the purpose was to describe how simulation-based pedagogy could be developed. In the first part of the study, a systematic literature review was used to collect research information on the simulation learning interventions implemented in rehabilitation education and how these interventions had supported students’ professional competence development. In addition, the purpose was to clarify the role of new technology in simulation learning. The purpose of the second part of the study was to describe the concepts linked to the professional competence development of physiotherapy students, which were then formed into a substantive theory. The literature review was conducted after the qualitative study so as not to affect the analysis of the qualitative data.
The results of the systematic literature review showed that different simulation learning methods are used in rehabilitation education, in the university and in the clinical placement. Simulated patients and patient case videos were simulation methods that had been widely used in the original studies. Virtual reality technology was also generally used in simulation situations. Active teaching methods, such as simulation training supported by technology and implemented with real people, promoted clinical reasoning, as well as communication and problem-solving skills.
The participants were satisfied with the simulation learning experiences, increasing the students' professional competence and self-confidence. Authenticity, excitement, interaction, returning to the situation and reflection of professional competence were the key concepts that described the experiences of the physiotherapy students from the simulation training. The resulting substantive theory described the authentic simulation learning situation as creating emotional experiences, which multifaceted physiotherapy students’ reflection regarding professional competence.


Keywords: physical therapists; education and training; virtual reality; simulation training; professional skills; experiences (knowledge); educational technology; qualitative research; literature surveys; doctoral dissertations

Free keywords: simulation learning; physiotherapy education; educational technology; systematic literature review; substantive theory


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Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2025


Last updated on 2025-25-01 at 20:06