Table 4 Description of the articles categorized into simulation and virtual reality
S. No. | Article type | Location | Region | Number of participants | Type of participants | Online platforms | Description of adopted strategy | Outcomes | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Letter to the editor (Schlégl et al., 2020) [54] | Hungary | Europe | 46 | Undergraduate students | Manikin surgical tools | Reproducible curriculum for distance education was established for teaching basic surgical skills (knot tying, suturing, and laparoscopic skills) to students by using tools that are easily available at home. | 79% of original learning objectives were achieved completely and 15% were achieved partially by the students. Exam results were compared with the previous 2 years. Reports suggest that students were highly satisfied with the course given the circumstances. | Except for the laparoscopic suturing and special instrument handling, teaching of basic knot tying, suturing, and laparoscopic skills by using homemade tools and distance education, can be done with efficiency and a high level of student satisfaction. |
2 | Research Article (Moore, Stallard, Tittemore, & Lee, 2020) [29] | USA | North America | N/A | Undergraduate students | ZOOM, Echo360 and ExamN | Students were facilitated with recorded virtual meetings on ZOOM and Echo360. The exams were conducted using the ExamN testing solution. | More than 80% of the students were satisfied with the strategy and found it beneficial. | The use of pre-recorded content and the facility of technical support have maximized student learning during the pandemic. |
3 | Letters to the Editor (Kim, Brinster, & Meehan, 2020) [55] | USA | North America | N/A | Postgraduate students | WebEx, ZOOM, Aperio ImageScope, and Leica’s Web Viewer | The weekly sessions were conducted on ZOOM or WebEx using virtual microscopy with Aperio ImageScope or glass slide microscopy with a digital camera. The live sessions were also recorded for playback. | Ease of navigation was indicated higher on the virtual microscope than on glass slide one. Similarly, sessions conducted through virtual microscopy were found more feasible. | Aperio ImageScope platform of the virtual microscope allows changes in image magnification, rotation of the image, and annotations. |