Accepted for/Published in: Interactive Journal of Medical Research
Date Submitted: Sep 20, 2025
Date Accepted: Sep 11, 2026
Impact of a new virtual health humanities approach for Collaborative Online International Learning: a mixed-methods study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Cultural humility offers a nuanced alternative to traditional “cultural competence” approaches in health education. This study evaluates a novel Health Humanities Global Classroom (HHGC) approach, developed 2023-2025, to cultivate cultural humility in health professional students through Object-Based Learning and Collaborative Online International Learning pedagogies.
Objective:
To assess the HHGC's effectiveness in raising health professions students’ awareness of intercultural communication and perspectives, potentially fostering culturally attuned health professionals.
Methods:
A mixed-methods study involved 58 health professions students from universities in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, participating in a two-hour online seminar exploring virtual museum objects and artworks in February-March 2025. Data were collected through surveys, written reflections, and focus groups.
Results:
All 58 students participated in focus groups, with 84% (49/58) completing the post-seminar survey. 98% (48/49) agreed that the seminar effectively increased intercultural competence awareness and that engaging with digitised museum objects and artworks heightened awareness of diverse perspectives. Students reported improved observational skills and cultural/health knowledge acquisition.
Conclusions:
The HHGC proved effective for cultivating cultural humility, creating a safe “third space” for intercultural dialogue mediated by virtual museum objects and artworks. This approach allowed students to explore sensitive topics without defensiveness, moving beyond stereotypes. The study provides evidence for an innovative, replicable pedagogical approach that challenges the hidden curriculum of biomedicine by valuing ambiguity and humanistic inquiry. Clinical Trial: N/A
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