Transforming Pharmacy Education: The Role of VR and Generative AI in Developing Consultation Competence

Le résumé fourni par la source

Introduction: Structured learning events (SLEs) are a key component of the pharmacy curricula to develop consultation skills. While effective, these sessions are resource intensive. This study explored the use of virtual reality (VR) combined with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to replicate the SLE experience and gain student feedback on its effectiveness.Methods: VR-assisted consultations were developed by SentiraXR. Students were asked to complete one of six VR consultation scenarios. Feedback was collected through postsession surveys containing Likert-scale questions, and responses were dichotomised for analysis. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis approach.Results: A total of 44 pharmacy students were recruited. 82 % agreed that VR-based SLEs supported the achievement of their learning objectives. Additionally, 93% of respondents thought that VR-assisted workshops would increase their confidence in communicating with real patients. Interviews highlighted that some participants found the VR workshops to be accessible, flexible, and useful consultation practice in a low-pressure setting. Concerns were raised about the accuracy and consistency of AIgenerated feedback, emphasising the importance of human interaction in developing interpersonal skills. Overall, students preferred a blended approach that combines VR-SLEs with traditional assessments.Conclusion: VR-assisted workshops were generally positively received, demonstrating potential for integrating immersive technologies into pharmacy education.

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