March 3, 2026Open Access

From Conventional OSCE to Virtual RealityEnhanced OSCE: A Narrative Review of Promise and Pitfalls in Medical Education

Key Points

VR-enhanced objective structured clinical examinations (VR-OSCEs) show improved learner engagement and performance tracking.
Studies suggest that VR-OSCEs effectively assess complex clinical skills in a standardized manner, unlike traditional methods.
Analysis of existing literature reveals VR's potential to simulate rare clinical scenarios and facilitate immersive learning environments.
Despite their promise, VR-OSCEs face challenges such as high costs, need for technical training, and variability in implementation standards.

Abstract

Xiaohui Zhang,1, Xiaohong Lyu,1, Xisheng Weng,2 Yidong Zhou1 1Department of Breast Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, Peopleâs Republic of China; 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, Peopleâs Republic of ChinaThese authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xisheng Weng, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, Peopleâs Republic of China, Email drwengxsh@163.com Yidong Zhou, Department of Breast Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, Peopleâs Republic of China, Email pumchzyd@163.comBackground: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are widely used to assess clinical competence but face growing challenges related to cost, scalability, standardization, and the assessment of complex clinical scenarios. Advances in virtual reality (VR) technology have prompted increasing interest in VR-enhanced OSCEs (VR-OSCEs) as a potential solution.Methods: This review examined the existing literature on the application of VR in OSCEs. Relevant studies were identified through searches of major electronic databases to provide a narrative overview of representative literature.Results: The included studies indicate that VR-OSCEs are primarily applied in virtual patient simulations, immersive clinical environments, and interactive procedural training. Overall, VR-OSCEs demonstrate improved standardization, enhanced learner engagement, objective performance tracking, and timely feedback compared with traditional OSCE formats. Evidence also suggests potential benefits in assessing rare or high-risk clinical scenarios, although variability exists in technological maturity and validation approaches.Conclusion: VR-OSCEs represent a promising evolution of clinical assessment in medical education, offering scalable, immersive, and data-driven evaluation opportunities. However, challenges related to cost, technical infrastructure, faculty training, and standardization remain. Further rigorous validation studies and hybrid assessment models are needed to support broader implementation and ensure educational effectiveness.Keywords: virtual reality, objective structured clinical examination, clinical skill assessment, medical education, immersive learning

From Conventional OSCE to Virtual RealityEnhanced OSCE: A Narrative Review of Promise and Pitfalls in Medical Education

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study