Curriculum Development using VR technology to enhance empathetic communication skills in future health care professionals Erasmus Project

Project Title

Curriculum Development using VR technology to enhance empathetic communication skills in future health care professionals

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries

Project Summary

The World Health Organisation emphasizes the importance of training future healthcare practitioners to practice RESPECTFUL AND PERSON-CENTRED HEALTH CARE. The importance of this can be demonstrated in the example of medical care empathy which has been observed to be associated with improved patient satisfaction and concordance with recommended treatment (Epstein, Hadee et al. 2007; Canale, Louis et al. 2012). Such interpersonal skills are considered key professional competencies (Figley 1995; Walker and Alligood 2001; Rothschild 2006; Sabo 2006) and should be core to health care education.
Empathy is key to effective communication between patients and health care (Halpern, 2001)and has been shown to positively affect health outcomes and patient satisfaction but also improve patient safety (Derksen, Bensing et al. 2013). Communicating with patients is the most frequently used procedure by health care providers, however communications skills training in undergraduate health care programmes is variable and assessment of interpersonal competencies often not reliable or consistent (Kurtz et al 2005). Empathetic communication is also very important for patients receiving home care.
EmpathyInHealth aims in filling in the existing gap in Health Care Education both in the Higher Education as well as in VET. The whole project starts with desk and field research and more specifically with focus groups to identify the needs of different target groups as far as empathetic communication is concerned. Based on the results of the research a qualification framework is being developed with the learning outcomes for empathetic communication in two different levels (5 and 7). It is noted here that the qualification framework to be developed includes both the learning outcomes that consist the transversal competence of EMPATHY as well as more specific LOs that deal with the specific sector of Health Care.

A certification scheme (ISO) will be developed in order to certify curricula and materials developed.

Therefore, an ISO certified curriculum will developed and the whole training programme will be developed on this curriculum.

It is noted that through the focus groups (discussed above) several scenario will be that could be used for training and development purposes. These scenario as well as others the partners will identify based on their experience, will be described thoroughly as based on these scenario role plays, VR videos and other educational videos will be developed. In total 12 scenarios will be developed and 4 our of them will be converted in VR videos and another 2 will be converted into educational videos. The rest will be used as role plays.

The above types of materials ie VR videos and educational videos will be accompanied by other classroom based materials such as powerpoint presentation s, videos, role play scenario, exercises etc. All the above will be included in a tutors guide that will include:
1. A detailed topic list and a teaching plan of all the sessions
2. The different training techniques to be used in each topic area. Different training techniques will include:
– lectures
– group discussion
– simulation
– videos and analysis
– role plays on specific scenaria
– VR video
– other techniques
3. For each of those techniques all training materials are included. Therefore the tutor guide will include:
-power point presentations
-supporting videos
-role play scenario
-additional handouts
-more exercises
4. A handbook that will guide the trainer to use all the above materials. The handbook will
-provide additional information, examples etc to be communicated by the trainer during the use of the power point presentations
-explain how the trainer can facilitate group discussions
-explain how the trainer can use the role play scenaria, what kind of feedback should be provided and how.
All materials will be ISO certified.
Numbers
-40 HE tutors and 10 VET tutors will be trained in using the new products
-120 HE students and 10 VET students will use the materials
-1 certification scheme
– 2 curricula (level 5 and level 7) [ISO certified]
-2 tutor packages (level 5 and level 7) [ISO certified]
-4 VR videos
-2 educational videos
Impact:
The project will improve the quality of the curricula in health care sector through their integration with empathetic communication, a skill that is not officially included jn the curricula but it is very important both for the students as well as for their patients. The project will provide the tools and techniques for this integration to the higher education and vet providers in the consortium thus supporting tutors in delivering the training. At the same time the project results will be uploaded on the project website so other higher education institutions and other vet providers can have access to them as well.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 338318 Eur

Project Coordinator

M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED & Country: CY

Project Partners

• THEOFANIS ALEXANDRIDIS KAI SIA EE
• KYPRIAKI ETAIREIA PISTOPOIISIS LIMITED
• Evangelische Hochschule Berlin
• PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS
• University of Nicosia
• VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
• HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN