title: Leveraging virtual humans to effectively prepare learners for stressful interpersonal experiences.
abstract: Stressful interpersonal experiences can be difficult to prepare for. Virtual humans may be leveraged to allow learners to safely gain exposure to stressful interpersonal experiences. In this paper we present a between-subjects study exploring how the presence of a virtual human affected learners while practicing a stressful interpersonal experience. Twenty-six fourth-year medical students practiced performing a prostate exam on a prostate exam simulator. Participants in the experimental condition examined a simulator augmented with a virtual human. Other participants examined a standard unaugmented simulator. Participants reactions were assessed using self-reported, behavioral, and physiological metrics. Participants who examined the virtual human experienced significantly more stress, measured via skin conductance. Participants stress was correlated with previous experience performing real prostate exams; participants who had performed more real prostate exams were more likely to experience stress while examining the virtual human. Participants who examined the virtual human showed signs of greater engagement; non-stressed participants performed better prostate exams while stressed participants treated the virtual human more realistically. Results indicated that stress evoked by virtual humans is linked to similar previous real-world stressful experiences, implying that learners real-world experience must be taken into account when using virtual humans to prepare them for stressful interpersonal experiences.
authors: University of Florida, Florida, USA. arobb@ufl.edu
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Robb
authors: Regis
authors: R
authors: Kopper
authors: Ravi
authors: R
authors: Ambani
authors: Farda
authors: F
authors: Qayyum
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Lind
authors: Li-Ming
authors: LM
authors: Su
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Lok
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003196:Computer Graphics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D051517:Digital Rectal Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D013337:Students, Medical; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*