Evaluating Pharmacy Students’ Teamwork Attitudes in Virtual COVID-19 Emergency Department Simulations: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study explores the impact of virtual simulation training on the transformation of teamwork attitudes among pharmacy students in a simulated severe COVID-19 pneumonia scenario in the emergency department. From July 2022 to January 2023, 16 pharmacy students, along with other healthcare students, participated in interprofessional simulation rounds. Each pharmacy student was assigned specific days for participation, utilizing either a 3D computer or a virtual reality headset to manage a patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in the virtual emergency department. The TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ) was employed for pre- and post-training assessments. The mean baseline T-TAQ score was 119.44±10.63, showing a significant post-training improvement to a mean score of 130.88±8.98 (Hedges' g=1.52). Stratification by academic years and device types revealed no significant impact on the learning experience. Remarkable enhancements in teamwork attitudes were observed post-training, specifically in team structure, situation monitoring, mutual support, and communication domains. These findings advocate that virtual simulation training in scenarios like severe COVID-19 effectively augments teamwork attitudes among pharmacy students, preparing them for collaborative practice in high-stakes emergency medicine settings.