Project description

Healthcomm Simulator

Health care has undergone deep structural and technological changes parallel to those produced in recent decades, such as the increased empowerment of users in decision-making and their participation in health processes; a paradigm framed in the model of patient-centred care. In spite of this, the biomedical model continues to predominate, prioritising technology over the human factor and relationships. Health professionals’ training and education places increasing emphasis on the acquisition of technical skills, whereas non-technical skills such as communication are rarely instilled.

However, the communication skills are among the most important factors in quality care, exerting a crucial influence on health outcomes, such as adherence to treatment, user satisfaction, and even on economic impacts, reducing the length of hospital stays.

Clinical experience alone is insufficient to acquire communication skills; instead, regular, specific training is required. It is therefore necessary to devote more resources to communication skills training using effective methodologies. An example of this is simulation, an educational methodology, active, repeated and effective for the training of a variety of skills, (including non-technical), of students and health professionals.

On the other hand, the growth of new digital learning resources, precipitated by the current COVID-19 Pandemic, leads us to design and plan new high quality and above all fun and motivating digital educational environments that can support our current training systems, and that are able to achieve training in those competencies required of health professionals, such as communication skills. 

In this context, this project emerged, where simulation-based e-learning combines learning through simulation with multimedia options to generate student-mediated interactive activities that are novel and innovative and should be incorporated into a healthcare education. In addition, this is a necessary approach that complements class attendance, lowers costs and enhances practice of the content.