Simulation of Patient Caregiver Counseling in Speech Language Pathology

Abstract

The creative endeavor I am undertaking as part of my Signature Honors Research Project is concerned with creating a useful and sustainable simulation experience for students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department. More specifically, my project utilizes Mursion simulation technology to facilitate an experience between a student, acting as a Speech-Language Pathologist, and an avatar, acting as the parent of a child diagnosed with a language delay. The purpose of this project is to allow students the most realistic environment in which to practice their clinical conferencing skills prior to entering the professional world. There are several steps in my investigation. First, I designed a case history of the “patient” being discussed and subsequently completed a detailed scenario for the Mursion simulation to follow, including proper reactions of the avatar to certain clinician responses. Following this step, I recruited nine participants to take part in my study, all of whom are seniors in the Speech and Hearing Sciences program at East Carolina University. My mentor and I met with the group of participating students and provided them with the aforementioned patient case history along with proper training on how to conduct a parent-therapist conference under various conditions. The next step in my study was for the participants to take place in the actual simulation experience. Each simulation will be video recorded for the purpose of reflection. These videos will be shared among the group at a debriefing session in order to discuss positive experiences, ways to improve clinical skills, overall learning outcomes, and thoughts regarding how Mursion technology may be beneficial on a wider scale for utilization by the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department. The intention of my work is to provide students with a simulation opportunity that is not currently available to them in the belief that “practice makes perfect.” Conferencing with the parent of a child can be difficult, uncomfortable, and nerve wracking for a graduate student or a new clinician. It is my hope that being given the opportunity to simply practice this skill and work towards honing this ability in a pressure-free environment prior to entering the work force will increase the confidence and competence level of our graduating clinicians.