Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training
Abstract Background Literature shows that Virtual Patients (VPs) find extensive usage in the field of health sciences, especially in the post-pandemic period. VPs are successfully utilized in developing various effective skills like medical interview. However, this technology is quite new in Turkey...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04860-7 |
| _version_ | 1797452219007631360 |
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| author | Baris Sezer Tufan Asli Sezer Gulsen Tasdelen Teker Melih Elcin |
| author_facet | Baris Sezer Tufan Asli Sezer Gulsen Tasdelen Teker Melih Elcin |
| author_sort | Baris Sezer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Literature shows that Virtual Patients (VPs) find extensive usage in the field of health sciences, especially in the post-pandemic period. VPs are successfully utilized in developing various effective skills like medical interview. However, this technology is quite new in Turkey and has not yet been used in communication skills training in a structured form. This research aimed to develop a virtual patient to improve the communication skills of medical students. Methods Developmental research method was used in the study. The implementation phase involved the one group posttest quasi-experimental design. The study group comprised of experts in various fields and 213 medical students. Needs Analysis Form, Scenario Building Form, System Validation Form, Communication Skills Assessment Form, and Interview Form were used as data collection tools. The research primarily concentrated on ensuring minimal errors within the system and enhancing students’ communication skill scores. Results The study found that VP was effective in teaching communication skills. Communication skills improved from a mean score of 36.74 in the first interview with 15 students to 74.2 in the final application with 198 students. It was determined that the students who practiced repeatedly (n = 26) made 17% more effective interviews than their first practices (score: 89.2). The script matching of the VP was 83%. Other data obtained from the students generally showed that the VP application was developed in accordance with the purpose, that it was user-friendly, and that the scenarios were adequate. Conclusion VPs like this have the potential to develop skills such as history taking, clinical reasoning, etc., which are very important in the field of health sciences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:04:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1eae130eac564beeacef25acbc25d786 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:04:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-1eae130eac564beeacef25acbc25d7862023-11-26T13:40:51ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-11-012311910.1186/s12909-023-04860-7Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills trainingBaris Sezer0Tufan Asli Sezer1Gulsen Tasdelen Teker2Melih Elcin3Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education and Informatics, Hacettepe UniversityFaculty of Nursing, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Ankara UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education and Informatics, Hacettepe UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education and Informatics, Hacettepe UniversityAbstract Background Literature shows that Virtual Patients (VPs) find extensive usage in the field of health sciences, especially in the post-pandemic period. VPs are successfully utilized in developing various effective skills like medical interview. However, this technology is quite new in Turkey and has not yet been used in communication skills training in a structured form. This research aimed to develop a virtual patient to improve the communication skills of medical students. Methods Developmental research method was used in the study. The implementation phase involved the one group posttest quasi-experimental design. The study group comprised of experts in various fields and 213 medical students. Needs Analysis Form, Scenario Building Form, System Validation Form, Communication Skills Assessment Form, and Interview Form were used as data collection tools. The research primarily concentrated on ensuring minimal errors within the system and enhancing students’ communication skill scores. Results The study found that VP was effective in teaching communication skills. Communication skills improved from a mean score of 36.74 in the first interview with 15 students to 74.2 in the final application with 198 students. It was determined that the students who practiced repeatedly (n = 26) made 17% more effective interviews than their first practices (score: 89.2). The script matching of the VP was 83%. Other data obtained from the students generally showed that the VP application was developed in accordance with the purpose, that it was user-friendly, and that the scenarios were adequate. Conclusion VPs like this have the potential to develop skills such as history taking, clinical reasoning, etc., which are very important in the field of health sciences.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04860-7History-takingTechnology-enhanced teachingSimulationCommunicationVirtual human |
| spellingShingle | Baris Sezer Tufan Asli Sezer Gulsen Tasdelen Teker Melih Elcin Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training BMC Medical Education History-taking Technology-enhanced teaching Simulation Communication Virtual human |
| title | Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training |
| title_full | Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training |
| title_fullStr | Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training |
| title_short | Developing a virtual patient: design, usability, and learning effect in communication skills training |
| title_sort | developing a virtual patient design usability and learning effect in communication skills training |
| topic | History-taking Technology-enhanced teaching Simulation Communication Virtual human |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04860-7 |
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