Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41469878›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2025

Virtual patient simulation to enhance medical students' clinical communication and decision-making skills: a pilot study.

Anna Dávidovics, Kata Dávidovics, Péter Hillebrand, Szilárd Rendeki, Timea Németh

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–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

5 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Review
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

5 authors.

Anna DávidovicsDepartment of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary. anna.davidovics@aok.pte.hu.
Kata DávidovicsDivision of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology, Urology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Péter HillebrandMedical Skills Education and Innovation Centre, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Szilárd RendekiMedical Skills Education and Innovation Centre, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Timea NémethDepartment of Languages for Biomedical Purposes and Communication, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.

Funding

Általános Orvostudományi Kar, Pécsi Tudományegyetem PTE ÁOK-KA No: 2375/2025Ministry of Culture and Innovation of Hungary Project no. TKP2021-NVA-06
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe integration of virtual reality (VR) into medical education has accelerated globally over the past decade, offering immersive and risk-free learning environments. This pilot study explores the impact of VRPatients™-Meta Quest 3 simulations in clinical communication and decision-making among medical students.

methodsIn a mixed-methods design, eleven undergraduate medical students participated in two VR sessions during the spring semester of the 2024/25 academic year. The pilot course was organized into two instructional blocks, each comprising three 90-minute sessions delivered over two consecutive weeks, incorporating VR-based training as part of the learning activities. A matched pre- and post-course survey measured the participants’ comfort with VR, perceived realism, confidence in clinical communication and decision-making, openness to VR integration into their studies, and headset usability using 5-point Likert scales and open-ended questions, followed by focus group interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were performed.

resultsPost-intervention mean scores improved markedly in VR comfort (3.0 ± 0.8 to 4.6 ± 0.5), communication confidence (3.0 ± 1.1 to 4.5 ± 0.5), and decision-making confidence (2.9 ± 0.9 to 3.8 ± 0.9). Headset usability and comfort was rated highly (4.7 ± 0.5). Thematic analysis of the qualitative results revealed that students regarded immersion, clinical communication practice, and safe decision-making environments as key benefits. All participants recommended the curricular integration of VR.

conclusionThis pilot study provides preliminary evidence that immersive VR simulation can significantly enhance medical students’ clinical communication and decision-making skills in a safe, low-risk environment. The intervention was well-received and demonstrated technical feasibility. Larger controlled trials, objective outcome measures, and longitudinal evaluation are warranted to solidify VR’s role in medical education.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceClinical Decision-MakingCommunicationDecision MakingEducation, Medical, UndergraduatePatient SimulationSimulation TrainingStudents, MedicalVirtual RealityCurriculumFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMalePhysician-Patient RelationsPilot ProjectsClinical communicationDecision-makingMedical educationSimulationVirtual patientsVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID41469878
PMCPMC12866315

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

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.