Assessing the efficacy of ChatGPT as a virtual patient in nursing simulation training: A study on nursing students' experience

Background: Integrating healthcare simulators in nursing education allows for innovative training approaches. ChatGPT as a virtual patient is one such innovation. This study assessed ChatGPT's effectiveness in nursing simulation. Methodology: Twelve nursing students from Morocco's Higher Institute of Health Sciences engaged with ChatGPT in a dyspnea scenario. Data collection included acceptability, accessibility, engagement ratings, and assessing students' virtual patient interaction skills. Results: Students embraced ChatGPT (accessibility: 4.3 0.5, engagement: 4.3 0.5). They recognized its value in training (average: 4.2 0.5). Student interaction skills positively correlated with overall performance. Notably, students' interaction skills demonstrated a positive correlation with their overall performance. Further analysis revealed significant correlations between specific skills: clarity and comprehensibility of responses (r = 0.701), relevance of responses (r = 0.444), and the ability to provide useful information (r = 0.597). Conclusion: Incorporating communication-based simulations and patient engagement in nursing education is crucial. ChatGPT as a virtual patient holds promise in enriching clinical learning. Integrating such technology effectively prepares students for real patient interactions. (c) 2024 Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.