Effectiveness studies on the modules with student practitioners have uniformly found these modules are highly effective in increasing both the knowledge and perceived comfort level of student practitioners in caring for and communicating with patients with developmental disabilities. Published research studies include:
Kleinert, H., Fisher, S., Sanders, C., & Boyd, S. (2007). Improving physician assistant students' competencies in developmental disabilities using virtual patient modules. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 18 (2), 33-40.
Kleinert, H., Sanders, C., Mink, J., Nash, D., Johnson, J., Boyd, S. & Challman, S. (2007). Improving student dentist competencies and perception of difficulty in delivering care to children with developmental disabilities using a virtual patient module. Journal of Dental Education, 71, 279-286.
Sanders, C., Kleinert, H., Free, T., Slusher, I., Clevenger, K., Johnson, S., & Boyd, S. (2007). Caring for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Virtual-patient instruction improves students' knowledge and comfort level. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 22 (6), 457-466.
Sanders, C., Kleinert, H., Free, T., King, P., Slusher, I., & Boyd, S. (in press). Improving nurse practitioner students’ competencies and comfort in delivering care to children with developmental disabilities using virtual patient modules. Journal of Nursing Education.
Sanders, C., Kleinert, H., Boyd, S., Herren, C., Thiess, L., & Mink, J. (in press). Virtual patient instruction for dental students: Can it improve dental care access for persons with special needs. Special Care in Dentistry.
Project Principal Investigator: Harold L. Kleinert, Ed.D.