Experiential Learning in the Myself Project

Anolli, Luigi; Mantovani, Fabrizia; Balestra, Massimo; Kommers, Piet; Robotti, Odile; Salamin, Anne-Dominique; Agliati, A; Realdon, Olivia; Zurloni, Valentino; Confalonieri, Linda; Mortillaro, Marcello; Vescovo, Antonietta; Venturini, Pietro; Wetterling, J.M.; Tarocchi, Anna

doi:10.4018/9781599048659.ch026

Cited by 2 publications

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“…Given these advantages, there has been an increase in the use of simulated role-play conversations with virtual humans to improve patient and provider communication in medical education as well as clinical settings. For example, the MYSELF project was developed to train providers in the expression and recognition of emotions and interpersonal communication skills through the use of an emotionally expressive virtual patient [ 49 ]. Other computer-based programs have been developed to improve pharmacy students’ motivational interviewing skills [ 50 ], medical students’ history-taking and basic communication skills [ 51 ], and promote healthy behaviors in patients with low health literacy [ 52 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated Conversations With Virtual Humans to Improve Patient-Provider Communication and Reduce Unnecessary Prescriptions for Antibiotics: A Repeated Measure Pilot Study

Schoenthaler¹,

Albright²,

Hibbard³

et al. 2017

JMIR Med Educ

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BackgroundDespite clear evidence that antibiotics do not cure viral infections, the problem of unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics in ambulatory care persists, and in some cases, prescribing patterns have increased. The overuse of antibiotics for treating viral infections has created numerous economic and clinical consequences including increased medical costs due to unnecessary hospitalizations, antibiotic resistance, disruption of gut bacteria, and obesity. Recent research has underscored the importance of collaborative patient-provider communication as a means to reduce the high rates of unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics. However, most patients and providers do not feel prepared to engage in such challenging conversations.ObjectivesThe aim of this pilot study was to assess the ability of a brief 15-min simulated role-play conversation with virtual humans to serve as a preliminary step to help health care providers and patients practice, and learn how to engage in effective conversations about antibiotics overuse.MethodsA total of 69 participants (35 providers and 34 patients) completed the simulation once in one sitting. A pre-post repeated measures design was used to assess changes in patients’ and providers’ self-reported communication behaviors, activation, and preparedness, intention, and confidence to effectively communicate in the patient-provider encounter. Changes in patients’ knowledge and beliefs regarding antibiotic use were also evaluated.ResultsPatients experienced a short-term positive improvement in beliefs about appropriate antibiotic use for infection (F1,30=14.10, P=.001). Knowledge scores regarding the correct uses of antibiotics improved immediately postsimulation, but decreased at the 1-month follow-up (F1,30=31.16, P<.001). There was no change in patient activation and shared decision-making (SDM) scores in the total sample of patients (P>.10) Patients with lower levels of activation exhibited positive, short-term benefits in increased intent and confidence to discuss their needs and ask questions in the clinic visit, positive attitudes regarding participation in SDM with their provider, and accurate beliefs about the use of antibiotics (P<.10). The results also suggest small immediate gains in providers’ attitudes about SDM (mean change 0.20; F1,33= 8.03, P=.01).ConclusionsThis pilot study provided preliminary evidence on the efficacy of the use of simulated conversations with virtual humans as a tool to improve patient-provider communication (ie, through increasing patient confidence to actively participate in the visit and physician attitudes about SDM) for engaging in conversations about antibiotic use. Future research should explore if repeated opportunities to use the 15-min simulation as well as providing users with several different conversations to practice with would result in sustained improvements in antibiotics beliefs and knowledge and communication behaviors over time. The results of this pilot study offered several opportunities to improve on the simulation in o...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated Conversations With Virtual Humans to Improve Patient-Provider Communication and Reduce Unnecessary Prescriptions for Antibiotics: A Repeated Measure Pilot Study

Schoenthaler¹,

Albright²,

Hibbard³

et al. 2017

JMIR Med Educ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The fact that multimodal redundancy serves to focus attention is buttressed by studies on infant language acquisition (Gogate et al, 2001;Bahrick et al, 2004). The importance of emotions in learning processes is also more and more acknowledged (Anolli et al, 2006;Kort et al, 2001;LeDoux, 1998). Regarding this aspect though, multimedia presentations are only a little more powerful than conventional textbooks in conveying the rich emotional and social information that is exchanged by people when they communicate with each other and that also occur in traditional classes.…”

Section: Convergence Of Education and Game Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%