The Development and Piloting of a Virtual Reality Patient Consultation Simulation to Improve Oncology Practitioners Communication and Counseling Skills

Improving clinician communication skills has direct ramifications for cancer patient care. Previous studies have shown better communication techniques reduces cancer patient's anxiety and depression levels. 1 Lobb EA Butow PN Barratt A Meiser B Gaff C Young MA et al. Communication and information-giving in high-risk breast cancer consultations: influence on patient outcomes. Br J Cancer. 2004; 90: 321-327 Crossref PubMed Scopus (103) Google Scholar ,2 Schofield PE Butow PN Thompson JF Tattersall MH Beeney LJ Dunn SM. Psychological responses of patients receiving a diagnosis of cancer. Ann Oncol. 2003; 14: 48-56 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (276) Google Scholar However, delivering effective, evidence-based communication training for clinicians is resource intensive and often difficult to deliver at scale - issues that have been further exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. VR simulation provides a revolutionary opportunity for flexible, self-paced learning of communication skills in a safe environment. Students can be free to experiment and re-try difficult conversations until they have refined the relevant techniques.