Utilizing Simulations in Interprofessional Education to Address Clinical Challenges

There are many challenges faced in clinical settings3. For example, specialist shortages in integrated care settings4. This can lead to barriers to care for special needs patients, particularly those in healthcare deserts. Our activity aims to demonstrate how a clinical deficiency can be identified and addressed through interprofessional, simulation-based learning leading to improved patient outcomes.Implementation: Two OT faculty members will asynchronously lecture, focusing on interprofessional referrals, environmental set-up, and body mechanics necessary to prevent provider and patient injuries, to expand dental services to underserved patients, and to optimize dental student confidence in treating patients with special needs. This lecture content will precede students’ in-person lab, during which they will engage in case-based simulations facilitated by second year OT students, OT faculty and dental faculty. The student lab groups will rotate through transfer, mobility equipment, and diagnosis-based stations in dental clinic space, applying lecture content to community-based scenarios, while receiving real-time feedback from peers and faculty.Evaluation plan: This descriptive, comparative activity will utilize a pre/post test design. Through a 15-question pre-test and post-test survey students will be assessed on their knowledge and comfort with accommodation modalities for special needs patients. These surveys will be administered electronically during the preceding and proceeding time periods of the simulation experience. Analysis will utilize the paired student’s t-test.Outcome(s) and significance: Through case-based interprofessional collaboration via simulation; dental students will:

Apply effective body mechanics and transfer methods necessary to work with patients who use mobility devices and people with special needs.

Discuss how to adapt equipment, alternatively set-up dental space, recommend oral hygiene modifications, and access resources available for treating patients with special needs.

Report increased confidence identifying barriers that may limit dental care for patients with special needs, and including special needs patients in future professional life.