A new computer application for teaching sexual history taking to medical students: innovation and evaluation in the UfaceME^TM program

Figures & data

Figure 1 The UfaceME method.

Table 1 Comparison of UfaceME app with simulated patient method

Feature	Simulated Patient	UfaceME Method
Interview: clinician and patient	Standardized	Same
Video Recording	Single camera with side view of both participants	Prism camera with face-on view of both participants
Viewing of video playback immediately after the interview	Participants may pause viewing to make observations	Playback is nonstop from start to finish as participants make quantitative ratings of their experience.
Feedback by participants	Patient shares spontaneous observations and discussion	Graphic displays present data points
Documentation of feedback	Participants generate verbal and written comments and quantitative ratings	Graphic displays allow multiple comparisons of viewpoints by each participant
Supervisory feedback	Supervisor may join participants as they discuss their feedback	Same or feedback could be given later
Data generated and stored for retrieval	Feedback data stored separate from video record	All data is interlocked and retrievable
Storage of feedback	Written feedback stored in computer database	UfaceME database For each participant
Organization of data storage		Systematic
Recall of feedback		Systematic
Focus on Task Assessment	Informal, flexible discussion	Viewing statements prompt participants to rate how focused they were on task
Focus on Relationship Assessment	Informal, flexible discussion with personal feedback from patient	Viewing statements prompt participants to rate perceived empathy, distraction and other reactions, verbal and nonverbal
Focus on Clinician–Patient interaction	Unstructured and informal	Responses to viewing prompts by each participant are synchronized and repetitive to allow comparisons between participants

Figure 2 Screen shot of UfaceME screen in feedback.

Table 2 Factor pattern of pilot study student adjective ratings

Variable
Factor 1: Engaged/Distracted
You seem engaged	0.81
I feel distracted	0.67
I feel engaged	0.65
Sensitive	0.64
Empathic	0.58
Factor 2: At ease/Appropriate
I feel at ease	0.78
Appropriate	0.74
I feel confused	0.66
You seem at ease	0.63
You seem confused	0.53
Factor 3: On track
On track	0.55
You seem distracted	0.55
(54% of variance explained)

Table 3 Pilot study changes pre- and post-UfaceME training (n=24)

Scale anchors*	$\bar{X}$diff	t^#	p (2-tailed)
Uncomfortable–Comfortable	−2.64	−3.12	0.01
Disengaged–Engaged	−1.09	−2.50	0.03
Bored–Stimulated	−1.00	−2.24	0.05
Misunderstood–Understood	−1.77	−2.24	0.49
Hard–Easy	−1.00	−2.26	0.047
Dislike–Like	−0.96	−2.65	−0.024
Not worthwhile–Worthwhile	−0.25	−0.55	0.60
Learn nothing–Something new	0.06	0.17	0.87
Not empowered–Empowered	−1.06	−2.5	0.03
Not competent–Competent	−1.66	−3.36	0.007

Notes: Bold p-values indicate statistically significant. *Likert scale of 1 to 10. #df=10.

Table 4 Means on adjectival scales for first and second video experience in full class sexual history taking

Variable	Video 1 mean	Video 2 mean	df	t	p
I feel at ease	3.77	3.84	710	−0.85	0.22
You feel at ease	3.95	3.87	672	0.20	0.14
I feel engaged	4.37	4.49	644	−2.71	0.02
You seem engaged	4.37	4.39	633	−0.72	0.35
I feel distracted	4.13	4.26	607	2.06	0.07
You seem distracted	4.47	4.54	583	0.15	0.19
Appropriate	4.50	4.61	642	−2.70	0.02
Empathic	4.00	4.08	613	−1.38	0.15
On track	4.12	4.36	591	−3.04	0.002

Note: Bold p-values indicate statistically significant.

Table 5 Means on adjectival scales for “patient” and “clinician” in full class sexual history taking

Variable	Patient mean	Clinician mean	df	t	p
I feel at ease	4.16	3.79	1197	6.28	0.001
You feel at ease	4.36	3.90	1076	9.00	0.001
I feel engaged	4.65	4.42	984	6.04	0.001
You feel engaged	4.79	4.36	860	11.76	0.001
I feel distracted	1.71	1.79	1092	−1.31	0.10
You seem distracted	1.46	1.47	1052	−0.19	0.43
Appropriate	4.87	4.55	811	9.47	0.001
Empathic	4.70	4.03	828	15.78	0.001
On track	4.77	4.12	662	11.80	0.001

Note: Bold p-values indicate statistically significant.