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February 21, 2026Occupational Therapy In Health Care

Examining the Impact of a Virtual Dementia Simulation on Occupational Therapy Students: A Mixed Methods Study of Empathy Cultivation

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Authors

JLJulie LaroucheSPSuzanne ParkmanACAshley Condon

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Overview

Mixed methods study evaluates empathy cultivation in occupational therapy students through virtual simulation, indicating potential for improved dementia care.

Key Points

  • The research aims to assess how a virtual dementia simulation affects empathy in occupational therapy students.
  • Employed a within-subjects pre-post design to collect data.
  • Administered the Kiersma-Chen Empathy Revised Scale before and after the simulation.
  • Conducted qualitative focus groups to gain additional insights.
  • Engaged 39 occupational therapy students in a virtual simulation.
  • Quantitative data showed a significant increase in empathy levels post-simulation.
  • Qualitative findings identified four themes that reflect the simulation's impact on empathy development.
  • Students expressed the challenging nature of the simulation and its role in professional self-reflection.
  • Themes highlighted the importance of contextual understanding in healthcare.

Cite This Study

Larouche et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69994b88873532290d01fba2https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2026.2630705
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Enhancing Empathy: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Dementia Simulation in Occupational Therapy and Nursing Education2025
  2. 2Student Empathy: The Power of a Virtual Dementia Simulation2025
  3. 3Effects of Dementia Simulation on Empathy in Family Caregivers: A Pilot Study2026
  4. 4Preliminary Effectiveness of 360° Immersive Virtual Reality for the Acquisition of Empathy-Related Skills in Physiotherapy Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study2026
  5. 5Nursing Students' Experiences of Empathy in a Virtual Reality Simulation Game2024 · 5 citations