Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41368135›Full record

ReviewAdvances in medical education and practice2025

A Systematic Review of Emotional, Cognitive, and Logistical Factors Influencing Simulated Patient Performance in Simulation-Based Education.

Evelyn F Folorunsho, Usman H Malabu, Emma Anderson, Bunmi S Malau-Aduli

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Advances in medical education and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Evelyn F FolorunshoCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Usman H MalabuCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4899-7228
Emma AndersonCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
Bunmi S Malau-AduliCollege of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Douglas, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6054-8498

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Simulated patients (SPs) are critical to simulation-based education (SBE) in developing learners' clinical, communication, and professional skills. However, limited research has examined the factors influencing SP performance and consequent learning outcomes. Patients and Methods: We conducted a systematic review (2013-2025) using six databases, focusing on human SPs in healthcare education. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Study quality was assessed using the QATSDD tool. Results: Inductive thematic analysis identified three key domains influencing SP performance: emotional (anxiety, fulfillment), cognitive (task complexity, improvisation), and logistical (training, scheduling). SP involvement enhanced educational outcomes (empathy, communication, clinical reasoning) but was sometimes limited by SP fatigue, stress, or cognitive overload. Among the reviewed studies, 7 were high and 12 were of medium quality (no low-quality studies). Conclusion: Authentic SP portrayals enhance student learning, but factors such as emotional strain and cognitive load can limit effectiveness. We recommend structured SP training, robust feedback mechanisms, and attention to SP cognitive and cultural challenges. Future research should prioritize long-term SP outcomes, measurement of SP cognitive load, and exploration of ethical and cultural dimensions of SP engagement.

Indexed as

cognitive loadfeedbacklearning outcomesmedical educationsimulated patients

Identifiers

PMID41368135
PMCPMC12683012

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.