Virtual Reality for Developing Patient-facing Communication Skills in a Medical Science Graduate Education Course: A Mixed-Methods Pre-Post Study

Abstract

Communication skills are essential for patient-centered clinical research, yet traditional teaching methods offer limited opportunities for trainees to strengthen this competency. This study evaluates the impact of virtual reality (VR) modules on enhancing communication skills among graduate research trainees in medical science. A mixed-methods pre-post design was used to triangulate quantitative and qualitative data. Pre- and post-course scores for readiness and knowledge (Winter: n = 11, Fall: n = 29) were analyzed using a paired sample t-test. Qualitative data were collected during a class debriefing. Our quantitative findings revealed significant improvements in post-course scores for both knowledge (p