Abstract
Empathetic communication is a cornerstone of pediatric medicine, yet traditional residency programs often struggle to provide standardized, low-stakes environments for practicing difficult conversations, such as delivering bad news or addressing vaccine hesitancy. This study evaluates the efficacy of an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) role-playing application designed to train pediatric residents in empathetic communication. Leveraging natural language processing and interactive branching narratives, the VR system simulates realistic encounters with virtual parents of pediatric patients. A cohort of 42 pediatric residents participated in a randomized controlled trial, comparing the VR intervention against standard role-playing with standardized patients (SPs). Assessment of empathy was conducted using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) and the Kalamazoo Consensus Statement (KCS) framework, alongside qualitative post-experience surveys. The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in post-intervention JSE scores within the VR group (p < 0.01) compared to the control group, along with higher self-reported levels of psychological safety and preparedness. Additionally, participants reported high engagement and realism during the VR simulations. These findings suggest that immersive VR role-playing is a highly effective, scalable, and emotionally safe pedagogical tool that can supplement traditional clinical training, ultimately enhancing the empathetic capacities of future pediatricians.
