"It Feels Like Being a Real Doctor:" The Virtual Family Approach in Medical Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) significantly impact health outcomes, often more than medical care.
• Traditional medical education may not adequately address the complex social factors influencing patient health.
• There is a need for innovative pedagogical strategies to integrate SDOH into medical curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Virtual Family (VF) approach as a novel case-based instructional strategy for medical schools.
• To present the theoretical framework and practical implementation considerations for the VF approach.
• To explore the potential benefits and challenges of using VFs in medical education.

Main Methods:

• The article introduces the Virtual Family (VF) concept, defining VFs as non-real representations of families or social groups.
• The VF approach is presented as an extension of the virtual patient model, allowing adjustable focus on determinants.
• Theoretical underpinnings are drawn from modeling, simulation, storytelling, serious gaming, and flow theory.

Main Results:

• The VF approach provides a flexible "lens" for students and educators to examine relevant determinants of health within case studies.
• Implementation at three medical schools highlights practical considerations and challenges.
• The approach is described as practical, accessible, economical, and potentially powerful for enhancing SDOH education.

Conclusions:

• The Virtual Family approach offers a promising, innovative method for teaching social determinants of health in medical education.
• This strategy can enhance students' understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing health outcomes.
• The VF approach is adaptable and presents a cost-effective tool for medical institutions seeking to improve SDOH education.