Medical Students' Acceptance and Learning Efficacy With Physical and Virtual Standardized Patients

NCT06030466 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 202307039RINA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will focus on exploring the experiential differences between virtual standardized patients and physical standardized patients, gathering feedback through questionnaires and brief interviews. Standardized patients have been widely used in medical education and physician licensing exams in Taiwan for over 15 years. With the rise of technology-enhanced medical education, it is necessary to reexamine the professional attributes and identification of standardized patients and explore the implementation of virtual standardized patient systems. The research aims to reshape the professional identity of standardized patients, identify necessary attributes and competencies, and establish a virtual standardized patient system to assess medical students' acceptance and learning outcomes.

Conditions

Education, Medical

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Perception differences between medical student using virtual standardized patients and physical standardized patients.

  Perception questionnaire including satisfaction and acceptability. The questionnaire will use a 5-Point Likert Scale to assess the acceptance and satisfaction levels of physical standardized patients in comparison to virtual standardized patients among medical students. Here are some sample questions: S1: I am satisfied with how the "Virtual Standardized Patient System" operates. 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree S2: I am satisfied with the interactive process of medical history inquiries within the "Virtual Standardized Patient System." 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree S3: I am satisfied with the interactive process of medical condition explanations within the "Virtual Standardized Patient System." 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree

  1 year

• Learning efficacy difference between medical student using virtual standardized patients and physical standardized patients.

  The questionnaire will employ a 5-Point Likert Scale to investigate the learning effectiveness of medical students when comparing physical and virtual standardized patients. Below are some sample questions: PU2: I believe that the "Virtual Standardized Patient System" can be expected to enhance clinical learning. 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree PU3: I am of the opinion that the "Virtual Standardized Patient System" will facilitate clinical learning. 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree EE4: I find learning to use the "Virtual Standardized Patient System" to be a challenging skill to master. 1. Strongly Disagree 2. Disagree 3. Neutral 4. Agree 5. Strongly Agree

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

With physical standardized patients

OTHER

Medical students practice consultation with physical standardized patients.

Other: With physical standardized patients

With virtual standardized patients

EXPERIMENTAL

Medical students practice consultation with virtual standardized patients.

Other: With virtual standardized patients

Interventions

With physical standardized patients OTHER

The physical standardized patient is a real person who has received professional training courses in the department of medical education of National Taiwan University Hospital, and can help medical students practice consultations.

With physical standardized patients

With virtual standardized patients OTHER

The virtual standardized patient is a software system that presents on a computer screen like a video conference, allowing medical students to interact with it for medical consultation. The virtual character modeling adopts 3D model, the expression of the character is delicate, and the voice feedback is clear. After the students' questions are asked by voice recognition and key words are extracted, appropriate responses are given.

With virtual standardized patients

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Medical students studying at the National Taiwan University School of Medicine
• Able to understand the research case and sign the written consent form

You may not qualify if:

• Has used relevant virtual standardized patient software in the past (past exposure)
• Unable to adapt to technological applications or successfully use this virtual standardized patient system (unable to cooperate with research)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Taiwan University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, Taiwan

Location

Study Officials

• Cheng-Heng Liu, MD

  National Taiwan University Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomization with crossover design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 24, 2023
• First Posted: September 11, 2023
• Study Start: January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: December 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TW (1)