Evaluating medical student engagement during virtual patient simulations: a sequential, mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Student engagement is crucial in medical education but challenging to quantify.
• Virtual patient simulations (VPS) offer a potential solution for measuring and enhancing engagement.
• This study investigated the utility of VPS for medical student engagement at ATSU-SOMA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of virtual patient simulations (VPS) for increasing medical student engagement.
• To explore how and to what extent VPS foster student engagement.
• To assess the impact of VPS on flow, interest, and relevance in medical students.

Main Methods:

• 108 first-year medical students participated in team-based virtual patient case studies.
• Engagement was measured through observations, photographs, tutor feedback, and exit surveys.
• Qualitative data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Main Results:

• VPS fostered engagement by promoting flow (student absorption) and interest (enjoyment, discussion).
• Students found VPS relevant for clinical practice, exam preparation, and decision-making feedback.
• Cognitive dissonance was noted due to excessive text and environmental noise.

Conclusions:

• Virtual patient simulations were successfully integrated into the medical curriculum.
• VPS enhance medical student engagement through improved flow, interest, and perceived relevance.
• Findings informed improvements in VPS learning modules and implementation strategies.