An Educational Escape Room's Influence on Physical Therapy Students' Perception of Clinical Reasoning Development: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Clinical reasoning (CR) is a complex skill that requires great depth of knowledge and practical skills to provide comprehensive care in a dynamic health care setting. Within health care education programs, simulation experiences, such as an educational escape room (EER), create realistic, meaningful, and engaging learning environments that can aid in developing CR. Research on the impact of an EER on CR development through the student lens is limited. This study aimed to understand physical therapy (PT) students' perceptions of CR and its development, including the impact of an EER activity.

Methods: Following an EER experience, 17 individual semi-structured interviews were completed through a basic interpretive qualitative design. Data analysis used open and axial coding to discover common themes.

Results: The 4 central themes identified as impacting the development of CR by PT students were (1) understanding the why, (2) graduate learning experience, (3) application of knowledge in practice, and (4) growth. Through an EER experience, participants gained a deeper understanding of CR, were able to apply concepts in a safe environment, gained valuable experience in a controlled setting, and emphasized the importance of reflection in and on action.

Conclusions: Integrating a novel EER activity early in the educational curriculum can facilitate CR development through the lens of the student learner. This activity stresses the importance of applying knowledge and practicing skills in a safe and engaging environment while replicating the clinical setting, which challenges students' ability to adapt to new and stressful situations.