Enhancing Disaster Preparedness and Community Safety Through Virtual Simulation: A Scoping Review in Undergraduate Health Education
Journal
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
ISSN
1935-7893
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Daniel Torres-Agüero
Soledad Armijo-Rivera
Scarlett Vicencio-Clarke
Gustavo Norte
Eduardo Herrera
Andrés Lagos Cordero
Type
journal-article
Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec1">
<jats:title>Objectives</jats:title>
<jats:p>Disaster medicine (DM) prepares health care professionals to manage emergencies caused by significant societal disruptions. Training recent graduates and final-year students is an essential element of disaster preparedness. This review aims to examine the use of Virtual Simulation (VS) in undergraduate students’ DM training.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec2" sec-type="methods">
<jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>The research team searched Scopus, PubMed, WOS, and Scielo. The team followed the 6-step approach described by Mak to conduct Scoping Reviews. We identified 262 reports, and 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. We extracted and analyzed data, focusing on educational settings, professions involved, and intervention characteristics. The report followed PRISMA guidelines.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec3" sec-type="results">
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>The implementation of VS in DM training has been geographically concentrated, with most studies focused on nursing education. Most programs use virtual reality, with limited augmented or mixed reality integration, principally in nursing students. The training focused primarily on triage, disaster preparedness, evacuation, decontamination, improving knowledge retention, self-confidence, and decision-making.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec4" sec-type="conclusions">
<jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title>
<jats:p>Although VS has effectively enhanced technical skills and disaster preparedness, its use remains limited in undergraduate health education. Further research is needed to expand its application in interprofessional and non-nursing contexts, with deliberate practice principles to maximize efficiency. Integrating VS into community training can reduce costs and enhance large-scale emergency response.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec1">
<jats:title>Objectives</jats:title>
<jats:p>Disaster medicine (DM) prepares health care professionals to manage emergencies caused by significant societal disruptions. Training recent graduates and final-year students is an essential element of disaster preparedness. This review aims to examine the use of Virtual Simulation (VS) in undergraduate students’ DM training.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec2" sec-type="methods">
<jats:title>Methods</jats:title>
<jats:p>The research team searched Scopus, PubMed, WOS, and Scielo. The team followed the 6-step approach described by Mak to conduct Scoping Reviews. We identified 262 reports, and 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. We extracted and analyzed data, focusing on educational settings, professions involved, and intervention characteristics. The report followed PRISMA guidelines.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec3" sec-type="results">
<jats:title>Results</jats:title>
<jats:p>The implementation of VS in DM training has been geographically concentrated, with most studies focused on nursing education. Most programs use virtual reality, with limited augmented or mixed reality integration, principally in nursing students. The training focused primarily on triage, disaster preparedness, evacuation, decontamination, improving knowledge retention, self-confidence, and decision-making.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>
<jats:sec id="S1935789325001211_sec4" sec-type="conclusions">
<jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title>
<jats:p>Although VS has effectively enhanced technical skills and disaster preparedness, its use remains limited in undergraduate health education. Further research is needed to expand its application in interprofessional and non-nursing contexts, with deliberate practice principles to maximize efficiency. Integrating VS into community training can reduce costs and enhance large-scale emergency response.</jats:p>
</jats:sec>