Web-based versus face-to-face interprofessional team encounters with standardized patients

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Simulation
• Interprofessional Communication

Background:

• Developing interprofessional education (IPE) activities faces logistical challenges like scheduling and space.
• Virtual environments offer potential solutions to overcome these IPE hurdles.
• This study explored web-based interprofessional team interaction with standardized patients (SPs) versus traditional face-to-face encounters.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare web-based and face-to-face standardized patient (SP) encounters for interprofessional education.
• To evaluate interprofessional communication competency in a virtual versus in-person setting.
• To assess student perceptions of a web-based interprofessional team interaction.

Main Methods:

• Student interprofessional teams were randomized to either a web-based or face-to-face SP encounter.
• The web-based encounter utilized video conferencing on personal electronic devices.
• Faculty observers and SPs evaluated interprofessional communication; participants completed a perceptions questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Interprofessional communication was rated as average to above average by faculty and SPs.
• Student perceptions of the web-based encounter were mixed; some were unwilling to repeat it despite positive learning experiences.
• Preparation, including pre-encounter case review, was identified as crucial for web-based interactions.

Conclusions:

• Web-based SP encounters facilitate the use of communication technology for patient-centered care and interprofessional collaboration.
• Video conferencing can circumvent scheduling difficulties in IPE and be implemented as a co-curricular activity.
• Further research is needed to explore student/patient perspectives and optimal implementation of virtual IPE.