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Virtual Reality's Impact on Occupational Therapy Student Confidence and Fieldwork Performance

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Title: Virtual Reality's Impact on Occupational Therapy Student Confidence and Fieldwork Performance
Language: English
Authors: Kayla Collins, Kirsten Davin, Marian Gillard
Source: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 2026 10(1).
Availability: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Occupational Therapy, Professional Education, Computer Simulation, Influence of Technology, Self Esteem, Competence, Communication Skills, Computer Uses in Education, Intervention, Program Effectiveness
ISSN: 2573-1378
Abstract: Occupational therapy students often experience confidence gaps as they transition from academic preparation to real-world practice settings. This quasi-experimental study investigated whether the integration of immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations into the didactic portion of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program affected student confidence and subsequent Level II fieldwork performance. Data from 65 students across three cohorts were analyzed using the Student Confidence Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE). While no significant differences were observed in total confidence or fieldwork scores, students who completed VR simulations reported significantly higher confidence in five subdomains: adaptability, risk-taking, supervision, clinical practice, and professional competence. These findings align with prior studies across health professions, indicating that VR enhances psychological readiness and professional behaviors. A moderate correlation was also found between self-reported confidence and midterm fieldwork performance. These results suggest that immersive VR may be a valuable tool in occupational therapy education to foster essential professional competencies.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502441
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Virtual Reality's Impact on Occupational Therapy Student Confidence and Fieldwork Performance
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kayla+Collins%22">Kayla Collins</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirsten+Davin%22">Kirsten Davin</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marian+Gillard%22">Marian Gillard</searchLink>
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  Data: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
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  Data: Occupational therapy students often experience confidence gaps as they transition from academic preparation to real-world practice settings. This quasi-experimental study investigated whether the integration of immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations into the didactic portion of an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program affected student confidence and subsequent Level II fieldwork performance. Data from 65 students across three cohorts were analyzed using the Student Confidence Questionnaire (SCQ) and the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (FWPE). While no significant differences were observed in total confidence or fieldwork scores, students who completed VR simulations reported significantly higher confidence in five subdomains: adaptability, risk-taking, supervision, clinical practice, and professional competence. These findings align with prior studies across health professions, indicating that VR enhances psychological readiness and professional behaviors. A moderate correlation was also found between self-reported confidence and midterm fieldwork performance. These results suggest that immersive VR may be a valuable tool in occupational therapy education to foster essential professional competencies.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Occupational Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Education
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Simulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Influence of Technology
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      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Competence
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      – SubjectFull: Communication Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Computer Uses in Education
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      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: Program Effectiveness
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Virtual Reality's Impact on Occupational Therapy Student Confidence and Fieldwork Performance
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            NameFull: Kirsten Davin
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              Y: 2026
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