Abstract
Introduction
E
In this fourth installment, we review two “Educational Apps” that help healthcare providers become better communicators in the clinical setting. The VitalTips app and Health Communication app are each part of established communication skills training programs—Vital Talk and Comfort Communication Project, respectively. Each app was downloaded in July 2016 and accessed in August 2016.
Price: Free
Platform: iOS
Program website: http://vitaltalk.org
Features
• Teaching pearls and effective communication phrases are distilled into “flashcards.”
• Clever mnemonics help users learn about useful guideposts in communication with patients and families, such as the delivery of bad news.
• Interactive flashcard allows one to flip a card from front to back to deepen one's knowledge.
• Content is presented as helpful tips, for example, “what to say/what not to say,” “go to strategy,” and sample phrases artfully marked by a background icon of quotation marks.
• Active links to online resources (e.g., websites, newspaper articles, and journal articles) and multimedia (videos on youtube and vimeo) can be perused at the user's convenience.
What we liked
Many of us in the medical field have utilized flashcards as a tried-and-true way to test knowledge and recall. This app has a well-developed and engaging flashcard design that promotes interaction with user and content. The high-yield content displayed on each card can be read within seconds. Pictures of experts humanize the quotes.
We appreciate how VitalTips offers guidance on common “tough” scenarios that clinicians in palliative care often experience, including what to say when “the patient acts different from what you agree upon” or “the family member looks mad already and I haven't said anything yet.”
By including links to online content, materials can stay fresh and relevant. However, an Internet connection is required for external links to work. We would also like to see more documentation in the application as we were unable to identify certain functions such as the “star” function on the back of VitalTips cards.
Potential as an educational app
Depending on how they are utilized, flashcards may be limited to basic skills of remembering and understanding (within Bloom's revised taxonomy of learning domains). Adding a section on “How you can use these cards” could help users engage with the content at a deeper level by applying, analyzing, and evaluating.
We would love to see a future version of VitalTips that encourages the user to set learning goals before communication along with prompts to reflect on afterward. Because of its simple and intuitive design, this app would be easy to use and high yield in the clinical setting, even with a busy schedule.
Summary
This is a communication app featuring effective tips when communicating with seriously ill patients focused on balancing affective and cognitive aspects of communication. For development of more advanced communication skills, there is also a VitalTalk app (iOS, $2.99, reviewed in Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2013;16:1317–1318.)
Price: Free
Platform: iOS
Program website: http://communicatecomfort.com
Features
Components of the app
• “Plain Language Planner” provides simple language for palliative care medications, oncology terms, and oncology treatment side effects in both English and Spanish.
• “Communication Toolkit” and “Difficult Scenarios” provide effective tips for observation, inquiry, and statements when responding to challenging circumstances, for example, “family does not know patient's wishes.”
• “Try It” features clinical scenarios in which the users can practice what they have learned and record their response. At the end of a personalized recording, several bullet points are presented for reflection.
What we liked
This app has multiple tools that are tied together by its patient-centered focus and attention to education. We appreciate the breadth of scenarios and approaches that the application offers guidance on. For example, the “Learning Language” subsection under Communication Toolkit helps translate what you want to say into more effective language, highlighting a relationship-driven approach to communication, rather than information-driven or sender-based approach. The Plain Language Planner reminds clinicians that not everyone speaks or understands medical jargon or may not use English as their first language. The app also cleverly takes advantage of the recording function on the phone, creating an opportunity for users to deepen their learning by creating and reflecting.
Potential as an educational app
Because of the density of categories provided, it may be difficult to navigate in a busy clinical setting. The user may need to familiarize themselves with the topics in each section before clinical use to maximize the learning potential of this app. The “Try it” feature is unique and we hope becomes more fleshed out in a future version. For example, if the application allows users to share their recordings for peer expertise comments on individual communication techniques, this would allow for more dynamic feedback.
Summary
This is a multicontent app that serves primarily as a comprehensive reference guide and toolkit that prompts users to reflect, learn, and develop their patient-centered communication skills.
Conclusion
As the specialty of palliative care grows within the United States, platforms like mobile applications will be increasingly important to broaden the influence and expand the reach of our field to other disciplines. Traditionally, effective communication techniques and principles are learned experientially or through formalized training programs. The utility of applications such as VitalTips and Health Communication highlights the potential to leverage these tools and scale effective communication strategies to the greater medical community at large.