AI-Assisted Adaptive Simulation in Physiology Education

Summary

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether an AI-assisted, rule-based adaptive screen-based simulation module could improve physiology learning outcomes among undergraduate health science students compared with conventional instruction. A total of 672 students from Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the adaptive simulation group or the conventional teaching group. The intervention used web-based clinical physiology cases with algorithm-supported case sequencing, automated formative feedback, and structured faculty-led debriefing, while the control group received standard lectures, textbook reading, tutorial sessions, and laboratory practicals. The primary outcomes were physiological knowledge and reasoning ability, and the secondary outcomes were conceptual understanding, engagement, cognitive load, and academic self-efficacy. Assessments were performed at baseline, immediately after the 12-week intervention, and again at four-week follow-up.

Conditions

• Physiology Education
• Simulation-Based Learning
• v
• Artificial Intelligence in Education
• Health Professions Education

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

AI-Assisted Algorithm-Supported Adaptive Simulation

The intervention consisted of an AI-assisted algorithm-supported adaptive screen-based physiology simulation delivered over 12 weeks. Participants engaged in structured web-based simulation sessions involving interactive clinical case scenarios, animated physiological visualizations, adaptive case sequencing, automated formative feedback, and faculty-led debriefing. The adaptive instructional system operated through predefined rule-based educational algorithms that adjusted case difficulty, feedback pathways, and learning progression according to participant performance within faculty-defined parameters. Sessions included pre-briefing, individual simulation-based clinical reasoning activities, adaptive feedback, and reflective debriefing. The intervention was implemented in alignment with the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice and focused on improving physiological knowledge, conceptual understanding, and clinical reasoning skills.

BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Physiology Instruction

Participants received standard curriculum-based physiology instruction over a 12-week period according to institutional teaching guidelines. Conventional instruction included didactic lectures, prescribed textbook readings, faculty-guided tutorial sessions, and scheduled laboratory practicals covering cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, endocrine, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and integumentary physiology. Tutorial sessions focused on instructor-led clarification of physiological concepts, small-group discussion, and question-and-answer interactions. Laboratory practicals included supervised physiological measurements, observation of physiological demonstrations, interpretation of experimental findings, and guided analysis of physiological responses. The control condition did not include adaptive simulation, automated formative feedback, algorithm-supported instructional adaptation, or structured simulation-based clinical reasoning activities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saveetha University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-01

Primary Completion

2026-01-31

Completion

2026-01-31

Countries

• India

Study Locations