Empathic communication training in healthcare using Virtual Patients

Abstract

This project aims to build effective empathic communication training for healthcare students using conversational AI and Virtual Patients. An umbrella review of empathy training in healthcare will be used to create a framework for designing effective empathy training. We will investigate two different implementations of Virtual Patients through a pilot study with speech-language therapy students from the University of Auckland. We will engage students, educators and patients in theexperimental studies, following co-design and design-based research methodology.