From Prompt to Patient: "Cost-Effective Simulation Tool for Medical Education in Low-Resource Settings" Evidence from Mozambique

Medical education in resource-limited settings faces significant challenges in providing diverse clinical exposure and fostering essential skills such as clinical reasoning, communication, and empathy. Due to the inability to afford immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), constrained by financial, infrastructural, and structural barriers, interactive simulation videos (ISV) constitute an innovative, cost-effective educational tool that can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical clinical experience, while enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. This study aimed to assess the educational value and user experience of ISV as a supplementary tool in teaching medical semiology among medical students in Mozambique. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 4th-year medical students at Alberto Chipande University. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed, including a one-sample t-test to compare responses against a value. A total of 93 students participated in the study. The ISV was highly rated for realism (77.4%), relevance to training (74%), and usefulness of feedback (78.5%). Most students reported increased confidence in patient care (81.7) and found the digital patient credible and engaging (74.2). Overall mean scores across all domains were significantly higher than the neutral benchmark (p<0.05), indicating a positive perception of the tool. Students also expressed a strong willingness to recommend its integration into medical curricula. In conclusion, ISV represents a valuable and feasible pedagogical approach in medical education, particularly in low-resource settings. They enhance clinical reasoning, engagement, and confidence while providing scalable, standardized learning experiences. ISV holds strong potential as a complementary tool to bridge gaps in traditional medical training and improve educational equity.