The international piloting started with two hour webinar, where the project and developed DigiNurse model was introduced, and the key themes discussed: Viewpoints of salutogenesis and self-management, patient coaching and coaching models, exploring the digital aspects of patient self-management and patient coaching and Ethical aspects relevant to digital patient coaching. The students were introduced with the working platform and the instructions.
After the webinar students practiced coaching skills in international groups of 2-3 coaching eachother in turns on an imaginary health issue. They wrote a personal reflection and discussed the learning experience with peers from each school. A second webinar was for reflection together using both short wrap up presentations and break out rooms to discuss the insights of the experience.
The reflections showed how multilevel learning had taken place, not only about the patient coaching itself, but also students had learned from eachother’s conduct, about health care and study systems in different countries, gained courage to express themselves in foreign language and through a digital channel.
“In fact, I thought coaching was going to be more complicated that it actually was in online contact.”
“I also understood that being listened to is incredibly powerful.”
The experience taking place now that Europe is in lock down, travel and social contacts are in minimum, was valuable by itself.
”I never had this kind of experience before and I must say its very protective and appropriate way to discuss our health issues and work on it while having this lockdown situation.”
Students had thoroughly thought of both challenges and benefits in use of technology in patient selfmanagement support, and with the experience, had personal viewpoint on these issues.
Also, for us teachers and project team members, trying this kind of cooperation was new and needed courage. It was heart warming to see how open and comfortable the students were in the reflection webinar – the feeling of familiarity and shared experience had developed also through digital channels without actually having ever met – friendships between students from different universities had been developed and plans of travel and visit when the lock down would be over had been made.
“I definitely want to do it again in future”
– I think we teachers agree and seek for new opportunities to arrange such international learning opportunities.