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The development and feasibility of a speech recognition-enabled virtual patient for training francophone nurses to conduct medical history interviews in English

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The development and feasibility of a speech recognition-enabled virtual patient for training francophone nurses to conduct medical history interviews in English

Walker, Nicholas (2009) The development and feasibility of a speech recognition-enabled virtual patient for training francophone nurses to conduct medical history interviews in English. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

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Abstract

Low language proficiency remains a significant barrier to healthcare access for many patients throughout the world. Training healthcare professionals in the language of their minority language patients, therefore, should lead to greater healthcare access, lowered costs, better health outcomes, and improved patient satisfaction (Zambrana, Molnar, Munoz, & Lopez, 2004). One important aspect of language training involves the development of accessible, appropriate, and pedagogically sound language training materials. The first goal of this thesis is to describe the development of the "Virtual Language Patient," a computer-based language training module based on the Virtual Dialogue Method (Harless, Zier, & Duncan, 1999). The prototype system under consideration employs automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology, using video clips of a simulated medical history interview with a minority language patient. The second goal of this thesis is to report the findings of a proof-of-concept feasibility study where the ease of operability and fitness of purpose of this prototype system were explored. Five nursing-students at a French language nursing college in Quebec reported the system to be easy to operate and fit for their anticipated language learning needs in terms of target language, choice of interlocutor, mode of interaction, task type, and corrective feedback. Training effects on participants' pronunciation scores, speech rate, and sense of preparedness for real life medical interviews suggest that the system can be effective in language training for healthcare professionals. Implications for the improvement of this and future virtual dialogue systems are also discussed.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science > Education
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Walker, Nicholas
Pagination:x, 153 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm.
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:Applied Linguistics
Date:2009
Thesis Supervisor(s):Trofimovich, P
Identification Number:LE 3 C66E38M 2009 W35
ID Code:976432
Deposited By: Concordia University Library
Deposited On:22 Jan 2013 16:25
Last Modified:13 Jul 2020 20:10
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