Helping medical students deal with emotions in patient communication: Challenges and opportunities of e-learning in multicultural learning communities

Abstract

E-learning platforms can support learning, communicating, and sharing in multicultural learning communities in online contexts. This study explores the design of an e-learning platform to support a community of learners composed of physicians, medical students, and patients with different cultural backgrounds through the use of problem based learning (PBL) activities centered on communicating bad news. We described how intercultural PBL activities address emotional issues and report on the effects of the platform on students’ ability to deal with the emotional dimensions of authentic medical problems. Finally, we discuss challenges and opportunities for extending such e-learning to wider contexts.