Training in the 21st Century: Using Virtual Role-Plays to Improve Nurse Communication for Medication Adherence

Training in the 21st Century: Using Virtual Role-Plays to Improve Nurse Communication for Medication Adherence

This study will utilize a three-phase approach that is informed by a theory-driven implementation framework to: 1) conduct a needs analysis in order to identify individual-, health care team-, and practice-level barriers and facilitators to conducting adherence counseling in safety-net primary care practices; 2) develop a virtual communication simulation designed to improve the quality of adherence counseling by allowing nurses repeated opportunities to practice discussing medication adherence with virtual patients; and 3) conduct a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the simulation on changes in: a) nurses' collaborative communication skills, b) medication adherence, and c) reduction in BP in a sample of 20 patients with uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) who are non-adherent to their medications.

Inclusion Criteria:

• PCPs and nurses will be enrolled if they fulfill the following criteria:

  1. male or female healthcare provider (MD/DO, NP, and Registered Nurse) practicing at the clinic
  2. age 18 years or older.

No exclusions will be made based on provider race/ethnic origin. We will oversample males to examine differential communication skills based on gender.

• Patient eligibility criteria include:

  1. receiving care at the participating clinic
  2. having uncontrolled HTN (BP>140/90 mmHg) at two visits in the past year
  3. being prescribed at least one antihypertensive medication and are non-adherent
  4. are ≥age 18 years
  5. fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to give consent
• Have a diagnosis of cognitive dysfunction or significant psychiatric comorbidity,
• Participating in another HTN-related study.