Digital Standardized Patients: Quan Van Tran

Meet Quan Van Tran

Quan Van Tran, 50, is a Vietnamese American who immigrated to the United States and was recently diagnosed with HIV.

In previous years opens in new tab/window, research shows the number of HIV diagnoses among Asians in the U.S. increased, and 1 in 5 Asians living with HIV in the U.S. did not know they had it. Quan also does not think of himself in terms of sexual orientation. His assignment is imbued with a need for students to demonstrate cultural humility. HIV is a sensitive topic and the depth of history required for contact tracing may also be challenging for new nurses.

Healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community

Studies show nurses often lack the proper education to adequately provide safe and competent care to the LGBTQ+ community (Kroning et al., 2018). It was important to the Shadow Health team to call attention to a specific vulnerable and underrepresented population. This character was developed with a nursing expert from the Vietnamese American Nurses Association. His demographics as an older Asian American man represent a growing population for new HIV infections, which is underrepresented in healthcare education.

Additionally, Shadow Health recently conducted research, published in Clinical Simulation in Nursing opens in new tab/window, to determine if virtual patient simulations can effectively teach nursing students about patient care issues they may not encounter as part of their clinical education. The team focused specifically on a patient living with HIV, recognizing that people living with HIV face stigma and discrimination in society at large and in the healthcare system itself. Findings suggest that participation in a virtual simulation of a patient living with HIV can positively impact nursing students’ attitudes.

Simulations in Shadow Health

• Undergraduate DCE: Community Health DCE