The effect of DVD training on the competence of occupational therapy students in manual handling: A pilot study

Background/Aims: The rapid expansion of web-based video hosting platforms has resulted in DVD-assisted learning being increasingly used in higher education. This format is particularly attractive for teaching clinical skills as it provides a permanent resource that can be cost effective for the university, while providing a flexible learning tool for the learner. DVD-assisted learning has been found to be effective in teaching clinical skills when compared with other teaching modalities; however, the majority of this research has been conducted in the discipline of medicine to teach surgical skills. The aim of this research was to determine the efficacy of a DVD-based teaching approach (intervention) compared with the traditional face-to-face approach (control) to teach occupational therapy students to transfer a patient using a hoist. Methods: A single-blind, randomised controlled pilot trial was carried out among final-year occupational therapy students (n=12) who were randomly assigned to DVD-assisted or face-to-face training. Each participant’s performance in executing the transfer of a non-weight bearing client from bed to wheelchair was evaluated pre- and post-training using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. Students’ perceived confidence in completing the task and satisfaction with the training was evaluated post-training. Results: Both groups of students demonstrated an improvement in performance of the hoist transfer following training. There was no significant difference in the level of improvement between groups; however, the small sample size meant the research could not reach definitive conclusions. Participants who attended face-to-face training had higher levels of perceived confidence in completing the task and were more satisfied with the training received than those who engaged in DVD-assisted training. Conclusions: This study is inconclusive in determining whether DVD-assisted training is as effective as face-to-face training in the acquisition of hoist transfer skills among occupational therapists. With DVD-assisted learning expected to increase, this study offers a useful protocol by which to conduct research on this topic with a larger sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation is the property of MA Healthcare Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)