Interprofessional Active Learning Environment Employing Virtual Reality Simulation to Promote Telehealth Practices and Psychosocial Well-Being.

Issue: As healthcare educators, we must continually evaluate innovative technologies and practices that may assist us in meeting the complex needs of individuals. In this study, we sought to address some barriers associated with using virtual reality (VR) to assess an interprofessional team of students' knowledge of and practice with telehealth and their ability to address psychosocial health.

Methods: A non-experimental, descriptive, embedded (explanatory quan/QUAL) mixed methods design of 240 students enrolled in the IPE Journey of Professional Trans-formation, Fall 2022.

Outcomes: Several themes emerged from the students' responses; the experience prompted a recognition of the need for clear communication, both verbal and non-verbal, in coordinating person-centered care. There was a significant decrease in Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Scale (ICCAS) (z=2.54, p=0.01), suggesting that students may have overestimated their interprofessional collaboration and communication abilities. There was no significant change in Transgender Knowledge, Attitude, and Belief Scale (T-KAB) and Telehealth Confidence Survey (TCS) scores.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that an interprofessional active learning experience using an avatar-based simulation case can facilitate in meaningful interdisciplinary teaming and promote the quality of a transgender person's well-being by employing telehealth and person-centered care practices.