Effects of Simulated Learning and Facilitated Debriefing on Student Understanding of Mental Illness

Abstract

Occupational therapy educators have studied various methods regarding student attitudes towards people with disabling conditions. Among the methods that have been studied is simulated learning. This paper describes the effects of a simulated learning exercise and facilitated debriefing on occupational therapy student understanding of mental illness. Results indicate that students had significant change relative to understanding that mental illnesses are brain diseases that respond to treatment (p < .01) on the post-test. Themes derived from qualitative data revealed that students believed that the learning experience increased their understanding, empathy, and insight into daily life with a mental illness.

KEYWORDS:

• attitude
• mental illness
• mixed methods
• occupational therapy students
• simulated learning