SHORT REPORT: Use of a real-time virtual patient simulation for interprofessional distance education: A pilot study

Objective: To evaluate the use of cloud-based virtual patients as a tool for engagement in interprofessional distance education (IPDE). Methods: Five pairs of final-year pharmacy and final-year nursing students interacted with an autonomous, real-time, cloud-based virtual patient (VP). They were debriefed after completion of their case and completed a questionnaire on the relevance of the VP to core IPE competencies. Results: The virtual patient approach was considered to be able to cover 25 of the 39 core IPE competencies. From a thematic analysis, there was evidence of students learning from, with, and about each other. Conclusions: The use of cloud-based autonomous VPs could be a successful tool for IPE.