Encouraging Study in Health Sciences: Informing School Students Through Interprofessional Healthcare Simulations.

Abstract

Although commonly considered postgraduate-level study, universities are increasingly providing options for direct undergraduate entry into health professional programs. This presents a need to inform high school students about the wide variety of careers available in the medical and allied health professions. To accomplish this, the developed "Health Simulation Experience" uses a case-based learning approach to introduce high school students to careers in health through the management and care of simulated patients. Participants worked through 3 simulated scenarios during the 1-day event and reported their perceptions on written feedback forms at the conclusion. A qualitative research approach was used to identify whether the simulation-based structure was an appropriate approach to assist with enhancing their understanding of career options within the primary and allied healthcare systems. Of the 528 student attendees who engaged with the program between 2018-2022, 333 provided ratings of their experience (94% overall satisfaction) and written feedback. From qualitative analysis of written comments, the following 3 key themes emerged: the approach provided insights into health professions careers; they enjoyed the authentic and immersive approach to learning; and the event developed an understanding of commonly performed clinical skills. Overall, the use of case-based learning with interprofessional hands-on experiences is an effective approach to introduce students to future study options and career pathways in primary and allied health.