Virtual patient simulations are at least as effective as traditional education for knowledge outcomes (pooled SMD=0.11)¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r3 · q3
Currency · newest study 2019 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Pooled analysis of randomized trials comparing virtual patients with traditional education shows no clear knowledge advantage (SMD=0.11, 95% CI −0.17 to 0.39). → Kononowicz AA 2019

Evidence¶

Kononowicz AA 2019¶

Kononowicz AA, Woodham LA, Edelbring S, Stathakarou N, Davies D, Saxena N, Tudor Car L, Carlstedt-Duke J, Car J, Zary N. (2019). Virtual Patient Simulations in Health Professions Education: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration. Journal of Medical Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/14676

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r3

Random-effects meta-analysis of trials comparing virtual patients with traditional education for knowledge outcomes; the pooled SMD=0.11 with CI crossing zero suggests "virtual patient interventions are as efficient as traditional education". High heterogeneity (I2=74%).

"The pooled effect for knowledge outcomes (SMD=0.11, 95% CI −0.17 to 0.39, I2=74%, n=927; Figure 2) suggests that virtual patient interventions are as efficient as traditional education."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Virtual patients are as effective as traditional education for knowledge outcomes (pooled SMD=0.11)
• Virtual patients show larger advantages over passive traditional learning (lectures, reading) than over active learning
• Attitude and satisfaction outcomes were mostly measured by item-by-item survey comparisons and showed generally positive but mixed results
• Virtual patients blended with traditional education improve knowledge more than traditional education alone (pooled SMD=0.73)
• In the few trials comparing them, virtual patients showed no significant knowledge differences versus other digital education, and skills differences in only one of three studies
• Virtual patients more effectively improve skills than traditional education (pooled SMD=0.90) — related
• Blended teaching shows no significant difference in multiple-choice question scores compared to traditional teaching — related
• Virtual simulations and mannequins or real persons show no significant difference in improving knowledge in medical and nursing education — related