A Schematic Insight to Virtual Reality in Inter-professional Simulation for Enhancing Teamwork among Medical Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Authors

  • Naheed Mumtaz University of Poonch Rawalakot AJK,Pakistan.
  • Bilal Masood Bolan Medical College, Quetta,Pakistan.
  • Ayesha Zafar Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Akhtar Saeed Hospital, Lahore,Pakistan.
  • Farida Baloch Jhalawan Medical College, Khuzdar, Pakistan.
  • Zahid Azam Chaudry Nazwaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat,Pakistan.
  • Kainat Zafar Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Akhtar Saeed Hospital, Lahore,Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36283/ziun-pjmd14-4/099

Keywords:

Clinical Competence, Patient Care Team, Interprofessional Relations, Simulation Training, Health Personnel

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality (VR)-based interprofessional simulation is a growing educational method of improving teamwork and communication between healthcare professionals. This systematic review and meta-analysis intended to determine the relevance of VR simulation to improve teamwork performances and the communication attributes in different healthcare disciplines.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Interventions that targeted the aspects of interprofessional teamwork and communication attitudes were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tool and Newcastle Ottawa for Randomized control trials (RCTs) and Observational studies, respectively. The certainty of evidence was evaluated with GRADE criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were determined and were expressed as 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) and the heterogeneity was compared as I2 statistics.

Results: A total of 10 studies were included in which VR-based interprofessional simulation was found to produce a substantial positive impact on the performance of teamwork among nursing students (SMD = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.17-1.29; p < 0.0001) or surgeons (M = 7.81; 95% CI: -2.52 to 18.16; p = 0.0007). As a secondary outcome, there was a large positive impact of communication attitudes as well (SMD = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.66 to 1.37; p < 0.0001). These results were stable as confirmed by sensitivity analyses.

Discussion: VR-based Inter professional simulations may be utilized in training healthcare workers in building teamwork and communication skills in order to facilitate better collaboration and increased patient safety.

Author Biographies

  • Naheed Mumtaz, University of Poonch Rawalakot AJK,Pakistan.

    Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

  • Bilal Masood, Bolan Medical College, Quetta,Pakistan.

    Department of Community Medicine,

  • Ayesha Zafar, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Akhtar Saeed Hospital, Lahore,Pakistan.

    Department of Pathology,

  • Farida Baloch, Jhalawan Medical College, Khuzdar, Pakistan.

    Department of Community Medicine,

  • Zahid Azam Chaudry, Nazwaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat,Pakistan.

    Department of Community Medicine,


  • Kainat Zafar, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Akhtar Saeed Hospital, Lahore,Pakistan.

    Department of Pathology,

References

1. Chavez-Valenzuela P, Kappes M, Sambuceti CE, Diaz-Guio DA. Challenges in the implementation of inter-professional education programs with clinical simulation for health care students: A scoping review. Nurse Educ Today. 2025 Mar 1;146:106548. Doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106548

2. Zhang M, Wang W. Research on the application effect of inter-professional training program for newly enrolled medical staff in operating room based on digital information technology. BMC Med Edu. 2024 Nov 14;24(1):1305. Doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06256-7

3. Anbro SJ, Houmanfar RA, Thomas J, Baxter K, Harris Jr FC, Crosswell LH. Behavioral assessment in virtual reality: An evaluation of multi-user simulations in healthcare education. J Organ Behav Manag. 2023 Apr 3;43(2):92-136. Doi: 10.1080/01608061.2022.2084207

4. Tang M, Zhou H, Yan Q, Li R, Lu H. Virtual medical learning: a comprehensive study on the role of new technologies. Kybernetes. 2022 Mar 3;51(4):1532-1554. Doi: 10.1108/K-10-2020-0671

5. Baniasadi T, Ayyoubzadeh SM, Mohammadzadeh N. Challenges and Practical Considerations in Applying Virtual Reality in Medical Education and Treatment. Oman Med J. 2020 May 18;35(3):e125. doi: 10.5001/omj.2020.43.

6. Kouijzer MMTE, Kip H, Bouman YHA, Kelders SM. Implementation of virtual reality in healthcare: a scoping review on the implementation process of virtual reality in various healthcare settings. Implement Sci Commun. 2023 Jun 16;4(1):67. doi: 10.1186/s43058-023-00442-2.

7. Rippon L, Zipp GP, Snowdon L, Cobb L, Downer MC, MacGregor A, et al. Interprofessional Active Learning Environment Employing Virtual Reality Simulation to Promote Telehealth Practices and Psychosocial Well-Being. J Allied Health. 2023 Nov 16;52(4):258-267. Doi:

8. Mahmood LS, Mohammed CA, Gilbert JHV. Interprofessional simulation education to enhance teamwork and communication skills among medical and nursing undergraduates using the TeamSTEPPS® framework. Med J Armed Forces India. 2021 Feb;77(Sup 1):S42-S48. doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2020.10.026.

9. Bauce K, Kaylor MB, Staysniak G, Etcher L. Use of theory to guide integration of virtual reality technology in nursing education: A scoping study. J Prof Nurs. 2023 Jan 1;44:1-7. Doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.10.003

10. Oudbier J, Verheijck E, van Diermen D, Tams J, Bramer J, Spaai G. Enhancing the effectiveness of interprofessional education in health science education: a state-of-the-art review. BMC Med Edu. 2024 Dec 19;24(1):1492. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-06466-z

11. Schilling S, Armaou M, Morrison Z, Carding P, Bricknell M, Connelly V. Understanding teamwork in rapidly deployed interprofessional teams in intensive and acute care: A systematic review of reviews. Plos one. 2022 Aug 18;17(8):e0272942. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272942.

12. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021 Mar 29;1(1):372. doi:10.1136/bmj.n71.

13. Fekete JT, Győrffy B. MetaAnalysisOnline. com: web-based tool for the rapid meta-analysis of clinical and epidemiological studies. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Mar;27:e64016. doi: 10.2196/64016.

14. Hur HK, Kim J, Jung JS. Enhancing nursing team communication and collaboration: Impact of immersive virtual reality simulation on nursing students. Clin Simul Nurs. 2025 May 1;102:101685. Doi: 10.1016/j.ecns.2025.101685

15. Mazur L, Butler L, Mitchell C, Lashani S, Buchanan S, Fenison C, et al. Effect of immersive virtual reality teamwork training on safety behaviors during surgical cases: nonrandomized intervention versus controlled pilot study. JMIR Med Edu. 2025 May 1;11(1):e66186. doi: 10.2196/66186

16. Wespi R, Schwendimann L, Neher A, Birrenbach T, Schauber SK, Manser T, et al. TEAMs go VR—validating the TEAM in a virtual reality (VR) medical team training. Adv Simul. 2024 Sep 11;9(1):38. Doi: 10.1186/s41077-024-00309-z

17. Neher AN, Wespi R, Rapphold BD, Sauter TC, Kämmer JE, Birrenbach T. Interprofessional team training with virtual reality: acceptance, learning outcome, and feasibility evaluation study. JMIR Serious Games. 2024 Nov 4;12:e57117. doi: 10.2196/57117

18. Kiegaldie D, Shaw L. Virtual reality simulation for nursing education: effectiveness and feasibility. BMC Nurs. 2023 Dec 19;22(1):488. Doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01639-5

19. Edwards TC, Soussi D, Gupta S, Khan S, Patel A, Patil A, et al. Collaborative team training in virtual reality is superior to individual learning for performing complex open surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Ann Surg. 2023 Dec;278(6):850-857, doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006079.

20. Liaw SY, Tan JZ, Lim S, Zhou W, Yap J, Ratan R, et al. WL. Artificial intelligence in virtual reality simulation for interprofessional communication training: mixed method study. Nurse Educ today. 2023 Mar 1;122:105718. Doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105718

21. Wong JY, Ko J, Nam S, Kwok T, Lam S, Cheuk J, et al. Virtual ER, a serious game for interprofessional education to enhance teamwork in medical and nursing undergraduates: development and evaluation study. JMIR Serious Games. 2022 Jul 14;10(3):e35269. doi: 10.2196/35269

22. Liaw SY, Ooi SW, Rusli KD, Lau TC, Tam WW, Chua WL. Nurse-physician communication team training in virtual reality versus live simulations: randomized controlled trial on team communication and teamwork attitudes. J Med Internet Res. 2020 Apr;22(4):e17279. doi: 10.2196/17279

23. Liaw SY, Soh SL, Tan KK, Wu LT, Yap J, Chow YL, et al. Design and evaluation of a 3D virtual environment for collaborative learning in interprofessional team care delivery. Nurse Educ Today. 2019 Oct 1;81:64-71. Doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2019.06.012

24. Ajemba MN, Ikwe C, Iroanya JC. Effectiveness of simulation-based training in medical education: assessing the impact of simulation-based training on clinical skills acquisition and retention: a systematic review. World J Adv Res Rev. 2024 Jan;21(1):1833-1843. Doi: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.1.0163

25. Bajwa M, Najeeb F, Alnazzawi H, Ayub A, Bell JG, Sadiq F. A Scoping Review of Pakistani Healthcare Simulation: Insights for Lower-Middle-Income Countries. Cureus. 2024 Dec 27;16(12). doi: 10.7759/cureus.76485

26. Sung TC, Hsu HC. Improving critical care teamwork: Simulation-Based interprofessional training for enhanced communication and safety. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2025 Dec 31:355-367. doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S500890.

27. Anbro SJ, Szarko AJ, Houmanfar RA, Maraccini AM, Crosswell LH, Harris FC, et al. Using virtual simulations to assess situational awareness and communication in medical and nursing education: A technical feasibility study. J Organ Behav Manag. 2020 Apr 2;40(1-2):129-139. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2020.1746474

28. Morris M, Mulhall C, Murphy PJ, Eppich WJ. Interdisciplinary collaborative working on surgical ward rounds: reality or rhetoric? A systematic review. J Interprof Care. 2023 Jul 4;37(4):674-688. doi: 10.1080/13561820.2022.2115023

29. Hosseinpour A, Keshmiri F. The effect of interprofessional game-based learning on perceived cognitive load and self-efficacy in interprofessional communication and collaboration in patient safety incidents. PloS one. 2025 Apr 23;20(4):e0321346. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321346

30. Kristina M, Ying LS, Lina S, Andrėjus S, Povilas I, Tomas B, et al. Multidimensional pedagogical framework for interprofessional education: Blending classroom, high fidelity and extended reality simulation. Nurse Educ Today. 2025 Jul 29:106838. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2025.106838

31. Nieuwoudt L, Hutchinson A, Nicholson P. Pre-registration nursing and occupational therapy students' experience of interprofessional simulation training designed to develop communication and team-work skills: A mixed methods study. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021 May;53:103073. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103073.

32. Saragih ID, Hsiao CT, Fann WC, Hsu CM, Saragih IS, Lee BO. Impacts of interprofessional education on collaborative practice of healthcare professionals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Educ Today. 2024 May 1;136:106136. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106136

33. Fernández-Alcántara M, Escribano S, Juliá-Sanchis R, Castillo-López A, Pérez-Manzano A, Macur M, et al. Virtual Simulation Tools for Communication Skills Training in Health Care Professionals: Literature Review. JMIR Med Educ. 2025 May 6;11:e63082. doi: 10.2196/63082.

34. Helle N, Vikman MD, Dahl-Michelsen T, Lie SS. Health Care and Social Work Students' Experiences With a Virtual Reality Simulation Learning Activity: Qualitative Study. JMIR Med Educ. 2023 Sep 20;9:e49372. doi: 10.2196/49372.

35. Fenn J, Meany B, Rescober S. Communication in virtual reality as applied to medical education. Art Human Open Acc J. 2024;6(1):56-59. doi:

36. Lunde L, Moen A, Jakobsen RB, Rosvold EO, Brænd AM. Exploring healthcare students’ interprofessional teamwork in primary care simulation scenarios: collaboration to create a shared treatment plan. BMC Med Edu. 2021 Aug 3;21(1):416. Doi: 10.1186/s12909-021-02852-z

37. Wai AK, Lam VS, Ng ZL, Pang MT, Tsang VW, Lee JJ, et al. Exploring the role of simulation to foster interprofessional teamwork among medical and nursing students: A mixed-method pilot investigation in Hong Kong. J Interprof Care. 2021 Nov 2;35(6):890-898. Doi: 10.1080/13561820.2020.1831451

38. Tervajärvi L, Hutri-Kähönen N, Rautiola AM. Student-LED interprofessional sequential simulation improves communication and teamwork. Nurse Educ Pract. 2021 Feb 1;51:102983. Doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2021.102983

39. Muñoz de Morales-Romero L, Bermejo-Cantarero A, Martínez-Arce A, González-Pinilla JA, Rodriguez-Guzman J, Baladrón-González V, et al. Effectiveness of an educational intervention with high-fidelity clinical simulation to improve attitudes toward teamwork among health professionals. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021 Oct 1;52(10):457-467. Doi: 10.3928/00220124-20210913-05

40. Gaspar A, Bardiau M, Herné P, Philippe G. Non-virtual simulation training and patient simulation existing for pharmacy students: A scoping review. Pharm Educ. 2024 Jan 12;24(1). doi: 10.46542/pe.2024.241.91145.

Downloads

Published

2025-09-29

Metrics

How to Cite

1.
Mumtaz N, Masood B, Zafar A, Baloch F, Chaudry ZA, Zafar K. A Schematic Insight to Virtual Reality in Inter-professional Simulation for Enhancing Teamwork among Medical Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PJMD [Internet]. 2025 Sep. 29 [cited 2026 Jun. 4];14(4). Available from: https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/4244

Similar Articles

11-20 of 781

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)