Transforming doctor–patient communication: Internet and telemedicine in simulation-based medical training

At present, doctor-patient communication is undergoing significant transformation due to digital technologies. The rise of the internet, social media, and digital tools that support medical purposes requires that doctors have new skills. This study presents the experiences of a new course for undergraduate medical students at the University of Pécs Medical School in Hungary. The course endeavors to demonstrate the internet's impact on the doctor-patient relationship by giving medical students the opportunity to practice communication strategies with 'Google patients' and e-patients, and use telemedicine in simulation-based training. We also explain how simulated patient consultations and feedback are incorporated into the curriculum and the methods used to prepare the students for these interactions. We explored the students' evaluations with the help of a course feedback questionnaire and written reflective essays. Based on the responses, students were satisfied with the training content and found the course innovative and relevant in the post-pandemic period. They highlighted the novel combination of theoretical teaching with simulation training and emphasized the need for practice in the field.