Using virtual patients to enhance empathy in medical students: a scoping review protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Empathy is a crucial skill that enhances the quality of patient care, reduces burnout among healthcare professionals, and fosters professionalism in medical students. Clinical practice and standardized patient-based education provide opportunities to enhance empathy, but a lack of consistency and reproducibility as well as significant dependency on resources are impediments. The COVID-19 pandemic has further restricted these opportunities, highlighting the need for alternative approaches. Virtual patients through standardized scenarios ensure consistency and reproducibility while offering safe, flexible, and repetitive learning opportunities unconstrained by time or location. Empathy education using virtual patients could serve as a temporary alternative during the COV

SUBMITTER: Yamada R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11871709 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature