The use of DVD simulation as an interprofessional education tool with undergraduate occupational therapy students

Health care professionals, including occupational therapists, are required to work collaboratively with other disciplines in order to provide high-quality care to their clients. As such, it is paramount that health care professional students learn about the professional roles of others and teamwork through interprofessional education (IPE). However, students are often educated in isolation from other disciplines and difficulties with clinically-based IPE have been acknowledged. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate occupational therapy students' perceptions of the use of digital video disc (DVD) simulations as a learning tool for IPE and practice placement education. Eleven DVD simulations were developed by Monash University and a team of health care professionals. Students from the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programme at Monash University viewed two or more simulations, and their perceptions were elicited using a mixed methodology approach consisting of a self-report questionnaire (n = 19) and three focus groups. Overall, the DVD simulations were perceived positively as a useful tool for IPE, to supplement practice placement education by occupational therapy students. Although the students did not feel that the simulations could replace actual practice placements, the cost benefit of using DVD simulations to teach, promote and facilitate IRE should be further investigated.