Virtual patient-based learning produces greater learning performance, self-efficacy and communication skills than conventional learning in a quasi-experimental study¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies · 2 review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Students' learning performance, self-efficacy and communication skills were significantly greater in the VP-based learning group than the conventional learning control group. → Deng Jing 2025

q2 i? The virtual patient-based social learning approach improved students' learning achievement and self-efficacy more in the intervention group than the control group, and the intervention group had significantly higher post-test communication skill scores. → Hobenu Kafui A. 2025

Evidence¶

Deng Jing 2025¶

Deng Jing, Tan Yifei, Chen Jing, Guo Xiujing, Wang Ling, Xie Chuan. (2025). Virtual reality simulation to teach communication for undergraduate nursing students: a scoping review. BMC Medical Education. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-08450-7

q2 · i? · review · r2

A quasi-experimental study with 40 senior nursing students (20 VP-based social learning, 20 conventional) reported significantly greater learning performance, self-efficacy and communication skills in the experimental group. Non-randomized allocation is the stated limitation.

"Students’ learning performance, self-efficacy, and communication skills were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group."

Hobenu Kafui A. 2025¶

Hobenu Kafui A., Adefuye Anthonio O., Naab Florence, Nyoni Champion N. (2025). Strategies to enhance clinical teaching and learning in undergraduate nursing education: A scoping review. PLOS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305789

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review reports Hwang et al.'s comparison of a virtual patient-based social learning system against conventional didactic education, finding "significantly higher post-test scores" for communication skills in the intervention group. No effect size is printed.

"Hwang et al.'s findings indicated that the virtual patient-based social learning approach improved students' learning achievement and self-efficacy in the intervention group more than in the control group when compared to the conventional didactic education approach. In terms of communication skills, the intervention group had significantly higher post-test scores than the control group"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Communication Skills — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Controlled GenAI virtual-patient and communication studies reported short-term skill gains, but positive findings were not universal — related
• Virtual patient simulations show mixed effects: improved diagnostic accuracy in one trial, no advantage over video teaching in another, and short-lived knowledge gains — related
• Learner self-reported improvement after AI-generated virtual patient training is sometimes discordant with observed or cohort-comparison performance — reports the opposite
• Repeated exposure to AI-VPs is associated with improved perceived self-efficacy and more positive attitudes toward communication training — related