IT.1.3 - Virtual reality training of bad news delivery in health care: Presenter(s): Petra Sneijder, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Netherlands

• Published in: Patient education and counseling Vol. 109
• Main Authors: van Ginkel, Stan, Blauw, Inge, Sichterman, Bo, Klarenbeek, Annette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2023
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.297

Training of bad news delivery skills usually takes place with classic role play. Research of the use of virtual reality (VR) shows that this innovation has a positive impact on learning (van Ginkel et al., 2017). As bad news delivery is considered a challenging task by health care professionals, including physiotherapists (Hiller, 2017), we developed a VR learning environment for practicing conversational communication skills for this target group. Developing the VR tool required insight in (a) the phases in the conversation, (b) the communication practices of the physiotherapists, such as meeting the needs of the patient and c) the educational design principles of instruction, learning activities and feedback. To gain these insights, we conducted a literature study and semi-structured interviews with physiotherapists. Three tools were developed:1.A rubric for bad news delivery: a mainly instructional method.2.An interactive PDF combining the rubric and VR-video’s: mainly instructional.3.An online VR learning environment: feedback method. The rubric, interactive PDF and VR learning environment have been discussed and tested in several demo sessions with both students and physiotherapists. Findings: are: The rubric and the interactive rubric are mainly received as positive on instructiveness. The VR-environment gives useful feedback generated in three ways: (1) the conversation performed is displayed within the rubric (2) it shows constructive feedback on each sentence (3) it shows feedback in short labels related to the rubric. The tools improve bad news delivery in practice and stimulates using a patient-centered approach in physiotherapy, in which the message is adapted to the needs of the patient (Sparks et al., 2007; Hiller & Delany, 2018). This may lead to higher patient satisfaction, and has a positive effect on the way the patient may deal with the outcomes of the conversation.