Immersive virtual reality simulated learning environment versus role-play for empathic clinical communication...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Virtual Reality in Healthcare
• Clinical Communication Skills

Background:

• Immersive virtual reality simulated learning environments (VR SLEs) offer unique advantages for clinical communication training, including repetition and determinism in a safe setting.
• Effective empathic communication is crucial for patient interactions, particularly in sensitive medical imaging scenarios like MRI scans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of virtual reality simulated learning environments (VR SLEs) versus traditional clinical role-play in enhancing clinical empathic communication skills for MRI scenarios.
• To determine if the mode of delivery (VR SLE vs. role-play) has a measurable impact on practitioners' communication abilities.

Main Methods:

• A split-cohort study involved 70 trainee and 9 qualified practitioners, randomly assigned to four groups: clinician VR (CVR), clinician role-play (CRP), trainee VR (TVR), and trainee role-play (TRP).
• Clinical communication skills were assessed using the SE-12 communication questionnaire (self-reported) and an expert-developed training and assessment tool.

Main Results:

• Participants in VR groups (TVR and CVR) reported significant improvements in communication confidence (11% and 7.2%, respectively), while the TRP group showed a 4.3% improvement.
• Empirical assessment revealed the TVR group performed 5% better on average in selecting empathic statements compared to their role-play counterparts.

Conclusions:

• Training interventions designed to improve interactions with patients undergoing MRI scans showed significant differences in participants' ability to select appropriate empathic responses.
• Immersion in an emotional narrative within a VR environment may enhance users' recall and selection of empathic terminology, suggesting VR's potential in communication skills development.