Abstracts
Abstract
Background and Objective: Virtual patient simulations are cost-effective methods for training health professionals. Yet, this teaching method is rarely used with clinicians who work or plan on working with people with substance use disorders. This scoping review summarizes the current state of the literature concerning virtual substance use disorder patient simulations in health professionals’ training and provides suggestions for future directions.
Methods: Online databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2010 and June 2024.
Results: Twelve studies were included. The development, administration, and evaluation of performance of the simulations are diverse. Most simulations aim to develop screening, brief interventions or referring skill, they target a variety of health professionals’ disciplines and report positive learning outcomes. Virtual simulations have good acceptance rates from learners.
Conclusions: Enhancing the diversity of clinical skills and patient populations portrayed in simulations, alongside adherence to best practices in simulation development and implementation is suggested to optimize training outcomes in this critical area of healthcare education.
Résumé
Contexte et objectif : Les simulations de patients virtuels sont des méthodes rentables pour la formation des professionnels de la santé. Pourtant, cette méthode d'enseignement est rarement utilisée par les cliniciens qui travaillent ou prévoient travailler avec des personnes ayant des troubles liés à l'utilisation de substances psychoactives. Cette analyse résume l'état actuel de la littérature concernant les simulations virtuelles de patients ayant des troubles liés à l'utilisation de substances dans le cadre de la formation des professionnels de la santé et propose des orientations futures.
Méthodes : Des bases de données en ligne ont été consultées pour trouver des articles évalués par des pairs et publiés entre janvier 2010 et juin 2024.
Résultats : Douze études ont été incluses. Les méthodes de développement, d'administration et d'évaluation des performances des simulations sont variées. La plupart des simulations visent à développer le dépistage, les interventions brèves ou les compétences d'orientation, elles ciblent une variété de disciplines des professionnels de la santé et rapportent des résultats d'apprentissage positifs. Les simulations virtuelles sont bien acceptées par les apprenants.
Conclusions : L'amélioration de la diversité des compétences cliniques et des populations de patients représentées dans les simulations, ainsi que le respect des meilleures pratiques en matière de développement et de mise en œuvre des simulations sont suggérés pour optimiser les résultats de la formation dans ce domaine essentiel de l'enseignement des soins de santé.
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