The Acceptability of Avatar Patients for Teaching and Assessing Pediatric Residents in Communicating Medical Ambiguity

Authors

Ariel S. Frey-Vogel, Director, Pediatric Education, Innovation and Research Center, and Associate Program Director, Pediatric Residency Program, Harvard Medical School and Mass General for Children.
Kevin Ching, Medical Director, Weill Cornell Medicine New York Presbyterian Simulation Center.
Kristina Dzara, Assistant Dean for Educator Development and Director, Center for Leadership and Innovation in Medical Education, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, and Center for Leadership and Innovation in Medical Education, University of Washington School of Medicine.
Leah Mallory, Maine Medical CenterFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2022

Institution/Department

Pediatrics, Medical Education

Journal Title

Journal of Graduate Medical Education

MeSH Headings

Humans; Child; Internship and Residency; Education, Medical, Graduate; Patient Simulation; Communication; Learning; Clinical Competence; Teaching

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Simulation offers a means to assess resident competence in communication, but pediatric standardized patient simulation has limitations. A novel educational technology, avatar patients (APs), holds promise, but its acceptability to residents, educational relevance, and perception of realism have not been determined. OBJECTIVE: To determine if APs are acceptable, provide a relevant educational experience, and are realistic for teaching and assessment of a complex communication topic. METHODS: Pediatric residents at one academic institution participated in an AP experience from 2019 to 2021 consisting of 2 scenarios representing issues of medical ambiguity. After the experience, residents completed a survey on the emotional relevance, realism, and acceptability of the technology for assessment of their communication competence. RESULTS: AP actor training required approximately 3 hours. Software and training was provided free of charge. Actors were paid $30/hour; the total estimated curricular cost is $50,000. Sixty-five of 89 (73%) pediatric residents participated in the AP experience; 61 (93.8%) completed the survey. Forty-eight (78.7%) were emotionally invested in the scenarios. The most cited emotions evoked were anxiety, uncertainty, concern, and empathy. The conversations were rated by 49 (80.3%) as realistic. APs were rated as beneficial for learning to communicate about medical ambiguity by 40 (65.5%), and 41 (66.7%) felt comfortable having APs used to assess their competence in this area. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric residents were emotionally invested in the AP experience and found it to be realistic. The experience was rated as beneficial for learning and acceptable to be used for assessment of how to communicate medical ambiguity.

First Page

696

Last Page

703

Recommended Citation

Frey-Vogel AS, Ching K, Dzara K, Mallory L. The Acceptability of Avatar Patients for Teaching and Assessing Pediatric Residents in Communicating Medical Ambiguity. J Grad Med Educ. 2022;14(6):696-703. doi:10.4300/JGME-D-22-00088.1