What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aimed to evaluate how virtual patient simulation influences primary care clinicians' decision-making in obesity management.

June 7, 2026

3088-LB: Impact of Patient Simulation on Improving Clinical Decision-Making in Obesity Management by Primary Care Clinicians

Key Points

This study aimed to evaluate how virtual patient simulation influences primary care clinicians' decision-making in obesity management.
A 60-minute online virtual patient simulation with two scenarios was utilized.
PCCs ordered diagnostic tests, made diagnoses, and prescribed treatments in an open-ended platform.
Improvements in decision-making were evaluated using McNemar’s tests comparing pre-CG and post-CG decisions.
Case 1 saw an absolute improvement in diagnostic test ordering by +20%-31% (P < .001).
Case 2 showed an increase in correct treatment plan selection by +8%-11% (P < .05).
Despite improvements, 48%-78% of PCCs still failed to select the correct pharmacologic treatment.

Abstract

Introduction and Objective: Primary care clinicians (PCCs) face challenges in identifying and treating obesity. This study evaluated the impact of an online virtual patient simulation (VPS) on PCC clinical decision-making regarding obesity diagnosis and management. Methods: The intervention was a 60-minute VPS consisting of two scenarios in an open-ended platform where learners ordered diagnostic tests, made diagnoses, and prescribed treatments from an extensive database matching the scope and depth of actual practice. Tailored clinical guidance (CG) was provided and learners could modify their actions. Improvements were measured by comparing post-CG decisions to pre-CG baselines using McNemar’s tests to determine significance (P .05). Data were collected from August to December 2025. Results: A total of 412 PCCs completed case 1 and 340 PCCs completed case 2. Absolute improvements for making correct decisions in each case are: Case 1: 46-year-old Asian woman with hypertension and prediabetes Ordering diagnostic tests: +20%-31% (P .001; baseline 46%-61%). Select diagnosis: +29%-38% (P .001; baseline 21%-24%). Choose treatment plans: +27%-35% (P .001; baseline 8%-17%). Create nonpharmacologic plans: +18%-22% (P .001; baseline 62%-68%). Case 2: 51-year-old White man with osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea Ordering diagnostic tests: +15%-20% (P .01; baseline 48%-70%). Select diagnosis: +10%-22% (P .01; baseline 52%-60%). Choose treatment plans: +8%-11% (P .05; baseline 14%-20%). Create nonpharmacologic plans: +16%-22% (P .001; baseline 67%-70%). A significant portion of PCCs (48%-78%) still failed to identify correct pharmacologic treatment. Conclusion: This VPS effectively improved primary care clinician competence in obesity diagnosis and management. The results highlight the success of case-based simulation in bridging gaps in pharmacotherapy selection while underscoring a persistent need for training in diagnostic recognition and treatment intensification. Disclosure C. Washington: None. A. Steinmayr: None. G. O'Malley: None.

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