Assessing virtual patients for empathy training in healthcare: A scoping review

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2025-03-16 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2025.108752

Xiaobei Chen , Zixiao Yang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

A growing body of virtual patients (VPs) generated by computers has been incorporated into medical education that includes empathy training. We sought to uncover the validity and effectiveness of VPs in empathy training.

Method

The authors carried out a comprehensive search of all articles published between 1991 and 2023 in the seven databases of literature in the areas of health science and education. In total, 2170 abstracts were reviewed, and ultimately, the final corpus consisted of 44 articles.

Results

Guided by the Computer-as-social-actor framework, this study identified four types of primary social cues presented in current literature to arouse trainees’ social responses. Overall, the social cues used across the included studies were similar. However, the efficacy and effectiveness of VPs varied, and we identified four factors that may influence these outcomes. First, technology matters. VPs for VR systems were found to be effective in clinical empathy training, but limited empirical evidence supported web-or-mobile-based VPs. Second, improvement was only observed in the cognitive empathy dimension. Third, studies that have longer interaction duration (over 30 minutes). Last, using self-report measurements were more likely to observe significant improvements. Qualitative findings revealed that VPs for VR systems can create an immersive experience that allows users to understand the needs of patients and put themselves in patients’ shoes, while web-or-mobile-based VPs are more convenient for trainees.

Practical implications

This review displays evidence supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of VPs in future medical empathy training. Mechanisms and future research agendas were discussed.

Conclusion

VPs are promising tools for future empathy training.

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目的：越来越多由计算机生成的虚拟病人（VPs）已被纳入包括移情训练在内的医学教育中。我们试图揭示虚拟病人在移情训练中的有效性和有效性：作者在七个文献数据库中对 1991 年至 2023 年间发表的所有健康科学和教育领域的文章进行了全面检索。结果：在 "计算机即社会"（Computer-as-social）理念的指导下，研究人员对所有文章进行了分析：在 "计算机即社会行动者 "框架的指导下，本研究确定了当前文献中用于引起学员社会反应的四种主要社会线索。总体而言，纳入研究的文章所使用的社交线索相似。然而，VPs 的功效和效果各不相同，我们发现有四个因素可能会影响这些结果。首先，技术很重要。在临床移情训练中，VR 系统的 VPs 被认为是有效的，但支持基于网络或移动的 VPs 的经验证据有限。其次，只有在认知移情维度上观察到了改善。第三，互动持续时间较长（超过 30 分钟）的研究。最后，使用自我报告测量方法的研究更有可能观察到显著的改善。定性研究结果表明，VR 系统的 VP 可以创造一种身临其境的体验，让用户了解患者的需求并设身处地地为患者着想，而基于网络或手机的 VP 则更方便学员使用：本综述展示了在未来医学移情培训中支持虚拟患者体验的效力和有效性的证据。结论：VPs 是未来医学移情培训中很有前途的工具：VPs是未来移情培训的有效工具。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.