Define, explain and advocate for the professional role and value of occupational therapy

Teacher Guidelines
Student Learning Objectives
Role Simulated Participant

📄 You can download the full simulation scenario in your preferred language below:

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🧩 Simulation Overview

In this scenario, students will engage in a simulated situation in the role of occupational therapist. The scenario involves a meeting (online or live) between occupational therapists and a stakeholder (individual, group or organization with a specific interest or stake in the potential role, activities and value of occupational therapy). In the meeting, the therapist must present, explain and advocate for the professional role and contribution of occupational therapy. The situations in which these meetings take place are described in the stakeholder case studies (see Section 4: Case information). This is a digital simulation that can be carried out via online learning platforms but can also be conducted in an in-class learning situation.

Modality: Digital Student roles:

Student roles	Number of students	Extra information
Occupational therapist	2	Two students will engage in the OT role (presenting and advocating for the profession) for each case.
Participant	–
Other simulated participant Please specify in extra information	–
Observer	6-25 (depending on instructional group size)	Students not engaged directly in the scenario observe performance, make notes of observations, monitor learner’s application of communication skills, and pose questions and provide feedback during debriefing. See Section 7 (Additional information for the observer).

Learning outcomes:

Learning outcomes (simOT Framework)

Domain A: Knowledge and attitudes supporting OT competence
Domain B: Managing and conducting OT process
Domain C: Developing and maintaining professional relationships and partnerships	Domain C.1. Demonstrate competencies in engaging in effective professional communication Communicate in a respectful, appropriate and effective manner. Demonstrate effective, appropriate and inclusive communication skills Effectively apply a wide range of communication skills to professional and non-professional audiences with consideration of diversity and complex contexts. Domain C.2.2. Establish and maintain relationships and partnerships with colleagues Define, understand and present the professional role and contribution of OT within a team, health setting and society Domain C.2.3. Establish and maintain relationships and partnerships with other agencies and stakeholders Collaborate with societal systems, civil organizations and community agencies
Domain D: Professional autonomy and continuous professional development
Domain E: Promoting and advocating for the enhancement of the profession and social change	Domain E.1. Demonstrate competencies in promoting the profession of occupational therapy Articulate, promote and share information about the role, knowledge and value of OT in health/social care settings and the wider community
Domain F: General professional skills and competencies

🛠️ Preparation for the Simulation

Prerequisites:

Competencies	Specific description of prior knowledge, attitudes and skills
Domain A.1. Knowledge about occupation and humans as occupational beings Theories, concepts and approaches for understanding human occupation Effects of person (individual health, development, needs, and function) and diverse environments (physical, social, cultural, political, economic and institutional) on occupational performance and participation	Prior to participating in the simulation, students will have received instruction and acquired the knowledge (described here) necessary to understand and perform the scenario tasks. During prebriefing, the instructor introduces and explains the scenario, directs students to simulation materials on the relevant online learning platform and ensures students understand the simulation procedure, expected performance, etc. Students will demonstrate basic skills and attitudes consistent with an ethical and professional approach to communicating with key stakeholders.
Domain A.2. Knowledge about occupational therapy Client-centred and occupation-based OT practice Domains of occupational therapy expertise (person, occupation and context) Process of occupational therapy
Domain C.1. Competencies in engaging in effective professional communication Knowledge about various communication styles and basic skills in communication

📦 Actions and Materials

Action	Materials
Prior to execution: Preparing simulation materials (stakeholder case studies, simulation instructions, supporting documents) and placing them on an online teaching platform; preparing for simulation of the stakeholder role In the case of a physical simulation environment: Instructor must prepare the classroom to accurately represent the scenario environment (i.e. office, meeting space) using proprs/materials described above and ensure technical requirements for observation of the simulation via video feed (students in observer role) .	Stakeholder case studies, simuation instructions and supporting documents (additional information, SimOT Compass) for therapist and observer roles (placed on an online teaching platform)
Facilitator: Ensuring adequate preparation of students for simulation with a clear outline of student expectations and plan for debriefing; ensuring all technical requirements are functioning and student access to digital platforms or, in the case of a physical simulation, ensuring and preparing the simulated environment; leading, facilitating and moderating execution of the scenario and debriefing	Scenario template and teachers’ manual Prebriefing presentation (presentation prepared by the instructor to introduce and explain simulation aims, roles, student preparation, procedure, rules and basic scenario flow) Props for re-creating the simulated environment (table, chairs, papers, telephone, etc.) (if appropriate)
Simulated participant: Prepare self for playing the stakeholder role	Props or other items to play the simulated participant role Scenario template: Case information (Section 4) and Additional information (Section 6); optional simulated participant guidelines (Annex 1: Additional simulated participant guidelines)

Learning objectives (observable behaviour)

Domain A
Domain B
Domain C	Identify and define the target stakeholder (service provider, government agency, media…). (C.2.3.) Use effective and appropriate communication skills (professional language, active listening, appropriate non-verbal communication) to clearly deliver an argument on the role and value of OT (C.1.) Establish a constructive and professional working relationship with an individual stakeholder. (C.2.3.) Define and explain the role and value of occupational therapy to an individual or group in line with the needs, interests, previous knowledge, and goals of the target audience. (C.2.2., E.1.)
Domain D
Domain E	Define and explain the role and value of occupational therapy to an individual or group in line with the needs, interests, previous knowledge, and goals of the target audience. (C.2.2., E.1.)

Name	Various (see case studies)
Sex	Male or female
Personal factors	Various (see case studies)
Reason of contact between OT and simulated participant	Various (see case studies)