Simulated Conversations With Virtual Humans to Improve Patient-Provider Communication and Reduce Unnecessary...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Communication
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for viral infections persists, leading to resistance and increased costs.
• Effective patient-provider communication is crucial but challenging, with many feeling unprepared.
• Antibiotic overuse has significant economic and clinical consequences, including resistance and gut microbiome disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a brief, 15-minute simulated role-play using virtual humans.
• To assess the simulation's effectiveness in preparing healthcare providers and patients for conversations about antibiotic overuse.
• To improve communication skills and knowledge retention regarding antibiotic use.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post repeated measures design was used with 69 participants (35 providers, 34 patients).
• Participants completed a 15-minute virtual human simulation.
• Assessed changes in communication behaviors, activation, preparedness, intention, confidence, knowledge, and beliefs regarding antibiotic use.

Main Results:

• Patients showed short-term improvements in beliefs about appropriate antibiotic use.
• Knowledge scores improved immediately post-simulation but declined at 1-month follow-up.
• Patients with lower activation showed short-term gains in confidence and intent to discuss needs; providers showed small immediate gains in attitudes about shared decision-making (SDM).

Conclusions:

• Simulated conversations with virtual humans offer a promising tool for enhancing patient-provider communication on antibiotic use.
• The simulation can increase patient confidence in participating and improve physician attitudes toward shared decision-making.
• Future research should investigate repeated use and varied scenarios for sustained improvements in knowledge and communication behaviors.