Research project Virtual patients and a virtual training clinic
In this project, virtual patients will be developed and evaluated with the aim of creating better conditions for dynamic skills training and authentic learning for psychology students.
An important part of higher education in psychology, particularly for trainee psychologists, involves interacting with people through dialogue in clinical settings, as well as developing clinical skills and clinical reasoning. However, despite advances in research and technological developments relating to digital treatments via the internet, clinical training for trainee psychologists has not yet incorporated digital methods. In this project, virtual patients will be developed and evaluated with the aim of creating better conditions for dynamic skills training and authentic learning for psychology students.
Full project title: Virtual patients and a virtual training clinic: A framework for training and assessment of clinical skills among Master’s students in psychology
Virtual patients are a subset of digital-based teaching methods that have been used successfully within various healthcare training programmes in Sweden, such as those for doctors, nurses and occupational therapists. However, there is a lack of experience regarding digital skills training and learning in clinical situations in psychology education. Instead of virtual patients, role-play is currently the main method used, where students interact with one another or work from written case descriptions. However, such teaching tools have certain limitations, such as difficulties in creating authentic clinical situations in role-play. Similarly, a written case description limits the possibility of dynamic interaction with patients.
The use of virtual patients as a teaching method that provides a digital, simulated conversation partner or patient that can be programmed to respond to questions in various ways, creating significantly better conditions for dynamic skills training and genuine learning. The strength of using virtual patients lies in the fact that the situation becomes more realistic, whilst at the same time students are given the opportunity to practise in a simulated environment that is nonetheless perceived as authentic. As with other simulations, the virtual patient does not suffer from fatigue, allowing for extensive practice.
In summary, there is a need to develop and evaluate virtual patients as a resource-efficient means of skills training in clinical situations within a digital educational environment for psychology students.
The aim of this project is to investigate:
- whether virtual patients can be used to facilitate skills training and learning in clinical situations within the field of psychology.
- whether virtual patient is equivalent to face-to-face clinical skills training and is resource-efficient.
Project timetable (2026)
- January–February: Project plan and review
- March–April: Preparation – development of case studies and the ‘SU Clinical Training Lab’ within the VCS system in collaboration with DSV
- May–July: Contact with actors and filming
- August–September: Testing, pilot phase
- October–December: Implementation, conclusion and report.