Interprofessional Active Learning Environment Employing Virtual Reality Simulation to Promote Telehealth Practices...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare education technology
• Interprofessional education
• Virtual reality applications

Background:

• Healthcare educators must evaluate innovative technologies for complex patient needs.
• Virtual reality (VR) presents potential but also barriers in assessing telehealth and psychosocial health competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address barriers in using VR to assess interprofessional students' knowledge and practice of telehealth.
• To evaluate students' ability to address psychosocial health within a VR simulation.

Main Methods:

• A mixed methods design (quantitative and qualitative) was employed.
• 240 students participated in an interprofessional education program using VR simulation.

Main Results:

• Students recognized the need for clear verbal and non-verbal communication in person-centered care.
• A significant decrease in the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Scale (ICCAS) indicated overestimation of collaboration skills.
• No significant changes were observed in Transgender Knowledge, Attitude, and Belief Scale (T-KAB) or Telehealth Confidence Survey (TCS) scores.

Conclusions:

• Avatar-based VR simulation fosters interdisciplinary teaming.
• This approach promotes quality of well-being for transgender individuals through telehealth and person-centered care.