Conversations about safety and independence at home
To support healthcare professionals in conversations about reducing fall risks, VeiligheidNL partnered with DialogueTrainer to develop four interactive simulations. These help professionals practice Motivational Interviewing and learn how to encourage self-care among the elderly.
About VeiligheidNL
VeiligheidNL is the leading knowledge center for injury prevention in the Netherlands. Their mission is to prevent the most common and severe injuries by promoting safe behavior and environments. Supporting the elderly in avoiding falls is one of their key focus areas, as falls often lead to serious complications. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in guidance and support, but often face challenges when discussing this topic with the receiver of care.
Challenge
Many healthcare professionals find it challenging to start conversations with the client about preventing falls. They often encounter resistance and are unsure how to motivate individuals to take preventive steps. VeiligheidNL looked for a way to support care providers more effectively, with a learning tool that offers hands-on experience and feedback on conversational choices. This helps professionals gain the confidence and skills to guide these conversations in a way that reduces the risk of fall-related incidents.
Solution
In collaboration with DialogueTrainer, VeiligheidNL developed conversation simulations as part of a broader e-learning on motivational interviewing. In these simulations, healthcare professionals engage with Ramses, a virtual client, and practice how to navigate different forms of resistance. By practicing in a playful, interactive way, professionals gain insight into their own communication style and common pitfalls. They learn how to apply the principles of Motivational Interviewing in realistic conversations, helping them respond more effectively to the behavior of older adults.
Results
The simulations have a significant impact on healthcare professionals participating in the training. By actively practicing and receiving immediate feedback, they gain more confidence in their conversational skills and successfully translate the theory of motivational interviewing into practice. This enables them to respond more effectively to resistance and provide better support to older adults in taking preventive action.
Participants describe the simulations as the most valuable part of the learning journey.
Healthcare professionals appreciate being able to practice conversations in a safe environment, without the pressure of a real-life situation.
The feedback helps them reflect on their own communication and teaches them how to respond more effectively to the behavior of older adults.
The simulations make it easier to apply theory in practice, directly leading to more meaningful conversations about fall risk and prevention.
Practicing how to handle resistance in a real dialogue within the e-learning module — the part we developed together with DialogueTrainer — is consistently rated as the most positive experience.
Kirsten Evenblij
Consultant/ Projectleider