SHORT REPORT: Use of a real-time virtual patient simulation for interprofessional distance education: A pilot study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2021.211.698704Keywords:
Interprofessional Education, Nursing student, Pharmacy student, Real-time simulation, Virtual patientAbstract
Objective: To evaluate the use of cloud-based virtual patients as a tool for engagement in interprofessional distance education (IPDE).
Methods: Five pairs of final-year pharmacy and final-year nursing students interacted with an autonomous, real-time, cloud-based virtual patient (VP). They were debriefed after completion of their case and completed a questionnaire on the relevance of the VP to core IPE competencies.
Results: The virtual patient approach was considered to be able to cover 25 of the 39 core IPE competencies. From a thematic analysis, there was evidence of students learning from, with, and about each other.
Conclusions: The use of cloud-based autonomous VPs could be a successful tool for IPE.
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