Experiencing COVID-19 Through the Patient Lens to Promote Empathy: Pilot Testing a Virtual Reality Learning Opportunity.
Heather ThomsonLisa Di ProsperoSarah XiaoLaurie LegereTamara HarthLaura RashleighMaria ParzaneseLorraine GravesKyle WilcocksFahad AlamPublished in: Journal of patient experience (2024)
Understanding the patient's experience with COVID-19 was essential to providing high-quality, person-centered care during the pandemic. Having empathy or being able to understand and respond to the patient's experience may lead to improved outcomes for both patients and clinicians. There is mixed evidence about how best to teach empathy, particularly related to promoting empathy during COVID-19. Literature suggests that virtual reality may be effective in empathy-related education. In collaboration with four patient partners with lived experience, a 360° VR video was developed reflecting their stories and interactions with the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to pilot test the video with interprofessional healthcare providers (HPs) to explore acceptability and utility, while also seeking input on opportunities for improvement. Eleven HPs reviewed the video and participated in one of three focus groups. Focus group data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data suggest that video content is acceptable and useful in promoting a better understanding of the patient's experience. Building on these encouraging findings, additional iterations of videos to promote empathy will be developed and tested.
Keyphrases
- virtual reality
- healthcare
- coronavirus disease
- case report
- sars cov
- newly diagnosed
- randomized controlled trial
- palliative care
- end stage renal disease
- systematic review
- electronic health record
- ejection fraction
- mental health
- big data
- prognostic factors
- insulin resistance
- chronic kidney disease
- skeletal muscle
- social media
- peritoneal dialysis
- weight loss