There is a growing awareness that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a distant future but a current reality. In healthcare simulation, AI is already influencing how we teach, train, and assess. From intelligent virtual patients to adaptive learning platforms, AI is quickly moving from the margins to the mainstream of simulation-based education.
SIMZINE has been closely following this transformation and highlighting the growing role of AI across the simulation ecosystem. Articles like Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Simulation: When Virtual Meets Reality and The Artificial Intelligence to Train Medical History Taking explored how AI technologies are being applied to specific educational challenges. We are even using AI ourselves in our new experimental podcast series, where we combine human experience with AI to provide concise and accessible summaries of peer-reviewed and open-access research, to help facilitators and simulation enthusiasts stay up to date.
Now, we want to expand the conversation reporting about a new international research study which aims at exploring how Artificial Intelligence is transforming Healthcare Simulation.
A Collaborative Effort Across Europe
The SIMNOVA Simulation Center at the University of Piemonte Orientale (Italy), in partnership with the University of Porto (Portugal) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany), has launched a comprehensive study to explore how AI is currently being integrated into healthcare simulation. This multi-institutional project seeks to map not only adoption trends but also professional attitudes, implementation challenges, and the educational needs surrounding AI-enhanced simulation practices.
The research is particularly timely. As AI-driven tools become more accessible, simulation educators and technologists are increasingly tasked with determining how, and when,to incorporate them into curricula. Yet, despite growing interest, evidence-based guidelines and shared practices remain scarce.
Key Research Objectives
The study will focus on several core areas:
- Current adoption patterns of AI technologies in simulation environments
- Professional perceptions and attitudes toward AI integration
- Barriers and facilitators of successful implementation
- Needs for future educational programs to prepare simulation professionals for AI-enhanced practices
- Evidence-based approaches to safely and effectively use AI in medical education
Your Voice Matters
To gather meaningful insights from the simulation community, the research team has launched an international survey targeting professionals involved in healthcare simulation, educators, technicians, learners, and developers alike. The goal is to collect a wide range of perspectives on how AI is currently used, how it is perceived, and what is needed to support its effective integration into simulation-based education.
Whether you’re an educator, technician, developer, or learner, your input can contribute to a more thoughtful, equitable, and effective integration of AI into simulation-based education.
Join this important initiative and help guide the future of AI in healthcare simulation.
👉 Participate in the study here: https://survey.uniupo.it/index.php/787638?lang=en
🕒 Duration: 10–15 minutes
🛡️ Completely anonymous
