This study evaluated an online simulation based educational program designed to improve clinician communication skills. Participants were clinicians and clinical trainees who completed simulated patient interactions and communication assessments as part of an educational evaluation. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either an AI based simulation training program or standard educational materials. Communication performance was assessed using standardized rating methods in simulated scenarios. The study did not involve patients or health related clinical interventions.
This study was a randomized educational evaluation of an AI based online simulation training program designed to support the development of clinician communication skills. Participants included clinicians and clinical trainees who routinely engage in patient communication as part of their professional roles. Participants were randomly assigned to either the SOPHIE simulation training program or a control educational condition consisting of standard instructional materials. All participants completed simulated patient encounters that were evaluated by trained standardized patients and expert raters using structured communication assessment tools. The primary outcomes of interest focused on communication skill performance in simulated scenarios as well as participant feedback on the educational experience. The study did not involve real patients clinical care or health related interventions and was conducted as an educational research project. The study was approved by the institutional review board prior to participant enrollment. It was registered retrospectively in ClinicalTrials.gov at the request of a journal during manuscript preparation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
51
An online simulation based educational training program that uses interactive virtual patient scenarios to support the development of clinician communication skills in simulated clinical encounters.
Standard educational content related to clinician communication skills delivered through instructional materials such as videos and readings without interactive simulation.
University of Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States
Mean Communication Performance Improvement Score in Simulated Patient Encounters
Communication performance was assessed during simulated patient encounters using standardized rating instruments completed by trained standardized patients or expert reviewers. The mean communication performance score improvement was calculated for each participant and used to describe communication skills following the assigned educational condition.
Time frame: Immediately following completion of the assigned educational condition
Immediately following completion of the assigned educational condition
A structured communication skills rating tool was used to evaluate specific communication behaviors demonstrated during simulated patient encounters. The total communication skill rating score was calculated for each participant.
Time frame: Immediately following simulated patient encounter
Mean Empathy Rating Score in Simulated Encounters
Empathy was assessed during simulated patient encounters using standardized empathy rating scales completed by trained evaluators. The mean empathy rating score was calculated for each participant.
Time frame: Immediately following simulated patient encounter
Mean Participant Self Reported Confidence Score
Participant confidence in communication skills was assessed using a self reported questionnaire administered after completion of the educational intervention. Mean confidence scores were calculated across questionnaire items.
Time frame: Immediately following completion of the educational intervention
Mean Usability Score of the Educational Intervention
Usability of the assigned educational intervention was assessed using a standardized usability questionnaire. Mean usability scores were calculated to describe participant experience with the intervention.
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Time frame: Immediately following completion of the educational intervention
Total Participant Satisfaction Score
Participant satisfaction with the educational experience was assessed using a structured questionnaire. The total satisfaction score was calculated for each participant.
Time frame: Immediately following completion of the educational intervention