Integration of emerging technologies in the training of health professionals: artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and clinical simulation

Abstract

The training of health professionals faces the challenge of overcoming traditional pedagogical models, centered on memorization, which limit the development of crucial skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving in real-life contexts. This situation creates a gap between conventional teaching and the current demands of the healthcare field, where a lack of student expertise can lead to risky practices and adverse events. Faced with this problem, the integration of emerging technologies such as clinical simulation, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence presents an innovative solution. These tools transform learning into an active and participatory process, allowing future health professionals to acquire knowledge and develop skills in an environment that simulates the demands of the hospital setting. The main objective is to analyze how this technological integration significantly impacts skill development compared to traditional methods, seeking to redefine health education to ensure quality and safe clinical care. Although the benefits are clear, challenges such as costs, teacher training, resistance to change, and infrastructure must also be considered.