Evaluating the efficacy of simulation-based education in improving blood pressure measurement accuracy among pre-specialised clinical technology students

Johannes Joseph Perkins ORCID iD 

Issue: Vol. 7 No. 2 2026 Article 1 pp.1-12
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026721 Published online 11th March 2026.

© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This study explored whether simulation-based education (SBE) could improve the blood pressure (BP) measurement accuracy of first-year clinical technology students. This study was underpinned by constructivist learning theory, which emphasises that learners actively build knowledge through experience and reflection, particularly in realistic and context-rich environments. The study retrospectively examined data from 51 first-year students. Initially, students were taught using conventional training methods such as lectures and tutorials. The same students were then exposed to a one-hour simulation session. After the traditional and simulation sessions, the accuracy of the students’ blood pressure measurements was assessed using a high-fidelity simulation manikin. BP readings measured within ±5 mm Hg of the preset BP were deemed accurate. The McNemar test (p < 0.05) was used to compare results before and after the simulation sessions. Before the SBE session, accuracy for systolic, diastolic, and combined BP measurements was 17.6%, 21.6%, and 3.9%, respectively. After the SBE session, accuracy improved to 45.1% for systolic, 37.3% for diastolic, and 19.6% for combined readings. These improvements suggest that SBE had a positive impact on students’ measurement accuracy of non-invasive BP. The results indicate that incorporating SBE into clinical technology student training may strengthen practical skills and improve readiness for clinical placements. The study further highlights the benefits of simulation through empirical evidence by contributing to the growing body of scholarship on SBE. By offering a hands-on addition to theory-heavy methods, SBE appears to help students bridge the gap between theory and clinical practice—something traditional approaches may not always achieve.

Keywords: Blood pressure measurement, Simulation-Based Education, Clinical skills, Healthcare training, Work-Integrated Learning.

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Dr. Johann Perkins is a clinical technologist with over two decades of experience in clinical technology, specializing in critical care. He earned a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree in 2001, followed by a Master’s degree in Health Sciences in 2018 and a Doctorate in Health Sciences in 2021. With a strong focus on clinical education and patient safety, Dr. Perkins has a specialist interest in Clinical Simulation and completed a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Simulation at the University of Johannesburg in 2024. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of Health Sciences at the Central University of Technology. His work centers on advancing simulation-based training to enhance clinical competence and improve patient outcomes.

Perkins, Johannes Joseph. “Evaluating the efficacy of simulation-based education in improving blood pressure measurement accuracy among pre-specialised clinical technology students.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 7, no.2 (2026): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026721

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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