Choose-your-own-adventure (CYOA): an empathy digital training tool for healthcare workers in maternity settings

The study aimed to explore the potential of adapting the Secret History (SH) workshop method to an independent digital learning tool using the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (CYOA) framework to enhance empathy skills and support continuous healthcare worker education among healthcare workers in maternity settings. In the context of SH training, healthcare professionals are encouraged to participate in roleplay activities while simulating scenarios involving patients, observing their own reactions and responses in each role. This enables them to gain insights into both the patients' backgrounds and the assumed roles of healthcare workers. While this training has enhanced the empathic abilities of healthcare workers, there are challenges in expanding the reach of this intervention. The implementation of the SH workshop presents cost implications in terms of the logistics required to implement in-person workshops. This study makes a meaningful contribution to the field of healthcare training and has important implications for the development and implementation of digital storytelling technologies in healthcare. The research provides a valuable resource for healthcare workers looking to improve their empathy skills in the healthcare industry, particularly in maternity settings. The CYOA tool developed in this study consists of a mobile application that presents users with a series of interactive narratives that simulate real-life scenarios in maternity settings. Our mobile application (SHiMA) has the potential to either enhance or introduce SH concepts on a larger scale for healthcare workers. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, incorporating two interviews, four co-design workshops, and two focus group discussions. The participants included expert informants associated with the Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP), Bhabhisana Baby Project (BBP), and midwives from Al-Nisa Maternity Home. The narratives have been collaboratively developed with this group of participants utilizing a CYOA framework to gradually reveal the characters' stories similar to the original SH workshop method. The data collected from these methods was analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns on the adaptation of the SH workshop method to a digital training tool. The study identified key design considerations for the development of the CYOA tool, including the need for engaging and interactive narratives, the significance of customizing the tool to meet the distinct requirements of healthcare workers, and the need for ongoing evaluation and feedback.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Computer Science

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Negesa, Sharifa

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Densmore, Melissa

• CYOA
• Digital training

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41847

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41847