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Interprofessional development of virtual patient cases: experiences and lessons learned – a qualitative study / Entwicklung interprofessionller virtueller Patient:innenfälle: Erfahrungen und lessons learned – eine qualitative Studie Cover

Interprofessional development of virtual patient cases: experiences and lessons learned – a qualitative study / Entwicklung interprofessionller virtueller Patient:innenfälle: Erfahrungen und lessons learned – eine qualitative Studie

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1:

Interprofessional virtual patient cases (IP VP cases) for CR training in IPE
Interprofessional virtual patient cases (IP VP cases) for CR training in IPE

Figure 2:

Seven steps of qualitative content analysis (own representation after Kuckartz & Rädiker, 2022)
Seven steps of qualitative content analysis (own representation after Kuckartz & Rädiker, 2022)

Figure 3:

Category tree with main categories and subcategories
Category tree with main categories and subcategories

Excerpt from the revised coding guidelines with anchor examples

Name of the CategoryDefinitionApplication of the category. Category is coded if the following aspects are mentioned:Category is not coded if the following aspects are mentionedAnchor examples
  • Main category: Experience of collaboration

  • not coded deductive

Personal subjective experience of collaboration in IP case developmentBased on own experience of collaborationIs not coded if it concerns findings on factors for case development. If so, then use subcategories under findings on factors for case development
  • Sub category: Group dynamics/working methods/own contribution

  • coded deductive / inductive

Personal subjective experience of working in a group with other case developers. Also with a focus on changes over time, as well as own role in the group
  • -

    Own impressions/subjective component

  • -

    Reflection on your own actions

  • -

    Perceptions of the group dynamics

  • -

    Reference to the current case development

  • -

    Changes in group dynamics over time

Is not coded if it concerns findings on factors for case development. If so, then use subcategories under findings on factors for case development
  • „Es gab keine feste Rolle, außer dass die Rolle war dann immer, die Perspektive von der eigenen Profession zu vermitteln, den anderen. Das war so die Rolle, aber bei der Fallerstellung selbst so was die Fallentwicklung, die Fallgeschichtenentwicklung und die Fragenstellung und so, das war ein Gemeinschaftsprojekt sozusagen. Also da hat jeder was gemacht und ich glaube, da haben wir uns auch gegenseitig so ein bisschen inspiriert.“ Interview_IP_Fallkonzeption_07: 23 - 23 (0)

  • „Und wie wurde bei der Fallentwicklung eine gemeinsame Arbeitsweise gefunden? - Ich glaube, wir haben uns erstmal so auf die Grundthematik geeinigt, worum es gehen soll und dann so ein bisschen wie der Fall, ganz grob, wie der Fall entwickelt werden soll. Und dann hat jeder das so von seiner Perspektive aus gesehen. Und dann wurde das versucht zusammen zu bringen.“ Interview_IP_ Fallkonzeption_07: 26 - 27 (0)

  • Sub category: Challenges in interpersonal cooperation

  • coded deductive

Subjective experience of what was challenging in the collaborationChallenging assessed aspects of collaboration with the case development teamChallenges of IP cases in general. Then coding under “Definitions/Main characteristics of IP case”„Ich hätte jetzt vielleicht nicht die Formulierung ‚nicht so zielführend’ verwendet, aber ich würde sagen natürlich, dass es auch Probleme gab oder Schwierigkeiten, Abstriche, die man machen muss. Die lagen in der Regel im Bereich der Kompromisse. […]“Interview_IP_Fallkonzeption_04: 29 - 29 (0)
  • Sub category: Opportunities for the case development team through collaboration

  • coded inductive

Positive experiences in the collaboration with the other people in the teamPositive experiences through interaction with the other case developers = psycho-emotional component of the work
  • -

    General opportunities of IP

  • -

    Differentiation between inter-/mono-professional in general

  • -

    Findings of the case development team

„Gab es positive Erfahrungen während der interprofessionellen Fallentwicklung? Im Zusammenhang mit der Zusammenarbeit. - Positiv im Sinne von, ich habe mich mit den Kollegen sehr gut verstanden, vertragen (lacht). Und es war jedenfalls in den meisten Fällen ein sehr schönes und harmonisches Miteinander. […]“ Interview_IP_Fallkonzeption_07 #00:18:02 6#

Professional experiences of the interviewees

IntervieweesExperience in IP PracticeExperience in Teaching or Curriculum DevelopmentExperience in IPEExperience in Case DevelopmentExperience in Designing Digital Teaching Formats
IP_01extensive15 yearsextensiveextensivemoderate
IP_02moderate< 5 yearsextensiveextensive-
IP_03-1510 years-10 years
IP_04>1010 years< 1 yearmoderatelittle experience
IP_05very extensive5–15 yearsextensivemoderatemoderate
IP_06moderate5–15 yearsvery extensivevery extensivevery extensive
IP_0710 yearsextensivevery extensivevery extensivevery extensive

Excerpt from the semi-structured interview guide

Block 1: Personal understanding of interprofessional virtual cases
Prompt: What do you personally think constitutes an interprofessional case?

Block 2: Personal experience of collaboration in interprofessional case development
Prompt: How did you personally experience the collaboration during interprofessional case development?

Block 3: Changes over time
Prompt: When thinking about the case development(s), did anything change over time? If so, how?

Block 4: Insights for future case developments
Prompt: What would you keep the same or do differently in future interprofessional case developments?

Block 5: Other
Prompt: Is there anything you would like to add that we haven't talked about yet?

Block 6: Sociodemographic data
Final Questions: I have a few questions about your teaching and case development experience.

Recommendations for IP VP case development

Step 1: PreparationStep 2: Case development and productionStep 3: Follow-up/reflection
Content aspects
  • Reaching a common understanding of IP and CR

  • Agree on case topics relevant to all professions

  • Formulate common learning objectives

  • Consider patient orientation

  • Storytelling

  • Avoid stereotypes

  • Consider the patient's perspective

  • Consider the perspectives of all professions

  • Negotiate compromises

  • Obtain feedback from students and subject matter experts

  • Review learning outcomes

Structural aspects
  • Define target groups for the IP VP (previous experience, level of requirements)

  • Agree on a common didactic concept

  • Allow sufficient time for production and searching for audio and video files

  • Ensure user orientation (media, scope, and processing time of the VP)

  • Evaluate usability

Working methods/group processes
  • Get to know the case development team

  • Clarify moderation

  • Clarify roles and responsibilities

  • Clarify time resources

  • Establish a work rhythm

  • Exchange expertise on the case topic

  • If necessary, consult case developers with expertise in the subject area

  • Observe group dynamics (e.g., hierarchies, trust, shared responsibility)

  • Continuously adapt working methods

  • Continuously observe group dynamics, shared responsibility and motivation of participants

  • Make decisions on an equal footing

  • Reflection and feedback: What worked well? Where is room for improvement? What was the personal learning gain?

Language: English, German
Page range: 158 - 172
Submitted on: Feb 19, 2025
|
Accepted on: Jul 30, 2025
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Published on: Dec 31, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

© 2025 Wibke Hollweg, Clara Korn, Fiona Wängler, Ronja Behrend, published by ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.