Virtual Healthcare Clown

The goal of the Virtual Healthcare Clown (VHC) project was to enhance the digital competencies of Healthcare Clown (HCC) professionals, enabling innovative virtual interventions to meet the needs ...

The goal of the Virtual Healthcare Clown (VHC) project was to enhance the digital competencies of Healthcare Clown (HCC) professionals, enabling innovative virtual interventions to meet the needs of both the COVID-19 pandemic and logistically disadvantaged areas. The following objectives were achieved: addressing the gap in the European HCC protocol by improving digital readiness and capacity; creating a digital-focused syllabus to integrate digital tools into training, responding to post-pandemic labor market needs; establishing a virtual work environment for HCC professionals; co-designing new procedures, tools and competencies for virtual clown-therapy interventions in hospitals and socio-health contexts. The project developed an easy-to-use platform for HCC procedures, including a video conferencing tool and content repository. Training objectives included enhancing trainers' digital skills for online sessions, sharing best practices for virtual healthcare clowning, and empowering HCC professionals by improving their digital skills, thereby enhancing their employability. The project also created a course aligned with ECVET criteria, adapting vocational education to labor market needs and contributing to innovation in VET.

The project was implemented through the Work Packages (WPs) activities: WP1: Project Management & Coordination: start-up tasks, financial reporting, meetings, a Communication & Dissemination Plan, monitoring and evaluation. WP2: Integrated Contents for VHC Training: developing integrated contents, methodologies and tools for Virtual Healthcare Clowns, aligned with the ECVET system. Outputs included the R1: VHC Training Handbook and audiovisual content for the R2: VHC Cooperative Platform. Activities: training for trainers, designing the online course, validating the VHC training. WP3: VHC Cooperative Platform: The objective was to create the VHC Cooperative Platform (https://virtual.healthcareclown.org), providing tools and content for Healthcare Clowns. The platform was updated regularly for daily patient interactions, including co-designing the service blueprint, wireframes and testing. WP4: Online VHC Training Course: An online course for Healthcare Clowns in Italy, Germany and Portugal was developed, integrated with the R1: VHC Training Handbook and included ongoing training and validation in selected hospitals. WP5: Dissemination: Four multiplier events across Italy, Germany, Portugal and Spain to share project outcomes.

The project’s Work Packages (WPs) results: WP1: Project Management (M1-M24): Administrative, financial, and reporting management was conducted throughout the project lifecycle. Plans of Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Communication and Dissemination are produced. WP2: Integrated Contents for VHC Training (M2-M8, M22): Developed methodologies and tools for Virtual Healthcare Clowns (VHC) aligned with ECVET standards. The result is PR1: VHC Training Handbook with a Sub-Handbook. During the WP2, audiovisual contents for the platform were developed. WP3: VHC Cooperative Platform (M6-M24): The result is PR2: VHC Cooperative Platform (https://virtual.healthcareclown.org) as a tool for Healthcare Clowns, updated with content for daily patient interactions. WP4: VHC Training Course (M14-M24): Developed an online course for Healthcare Clowns in Italy, Germany, and Portugal, integrated with the VHC Training Handbook (PR1) and validated in hospitals. The result is PR3: VHC Online Training, which present the different pilots realised in the different Countries, their experimentation and validation. WP5: Dissemination: Four multiplier events were held in Italy, Germany, Portugal and Spain (M8, M14, M20, M24) to share outcomes.