Scoping Literature Review of Digital Empathy Games in Healthcare Education and Training

TY - JOUR

T1 - Scoping Literature Review of Digital Empathy Games in Healthcare Education and Training

AU - Dall, Ruaridh

AU - Bond, Paul

AU - Cherukara, George

AU - Abbott, Daisy

AU - Jayasinghe, Jaya

N1 - © 2025 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2026/7/20

Y1 - 2026/7/20

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The study of serious games and their ability to develop empathy in users is a developing area of research. Empathy is recognised as being important to the practice of patient-centered healthcare and is associated with improved treatment outcomes. Understanding the breadth of information available on the relationship between serious game use and empathy within healthcare education and training may help reveal the suitability of the medium for further refinement in dental education.METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was undertaken to find relevant publications. The following databases were searched using keywords related to empathy, games and healthcare: APA PsycInfo, Embase, IEEExplore, Google Scholar, OVID Medline, and Web of Science.RESULTS: 2587 search results were returned and 21 publications were identified for inclusion in the review.DISCUSSION: Patient experience simulations are a popular method for digital games to show healthcare personnel the lives of their patients, and games can be used to simulate empathic communication in clinical settings. Commercial digital games can be utilised to develop empathy in healthcare trainees, and exposure to violent digital games or playing in an unethical style does not negatively impact the empathy of healthcare trainees. No studies were found related to dental education.CONCLUSION: Digital games have a potential role in increasing the empathy of users in healthcare training and education, but more research is indicated.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The study of serious games and their ability to develop empathy in users is a developing area of research. Empathy is recognised as being important to the practice of patient-centered healthcare and is associated with improved treatment outcomes. Understanding the breadth of information available on the relationship between serious game use and empathy within healthcare education and training may help reveal the suitability of the medium for further refinement in dental education.METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was undertaken to find relevant publications. The following databases were searched using keywords related to empathy, games and healthcare: APA PsycInfo, Embase, IEEExplore, Google Scholar, OVID Medline, and Web of Science.RESULTS: 2587 search results were returned and 21 publications were identified for inclusion in the review.DISCUSSION: Patient experience simulations are a popular method for digital games to show healthcare personnel the lives of their patients, and games can be used to simulate empathic communication in clinical settings. Commercial digital games can be utilised to develop empathy in healthcare trainees, and exposure to violent digital games or playing in an unethical style does not negatively impact the empathy of healthcare trainees. No studies were found related to dental education.CONCLUSION: Digital games have a potential role in increasing the empathy of users in healthcare training and education, but more research is indicated.

U2 - 10.1111/eje.70077

DO - 10.1111/eje.70077

M3 - Article

C2 - 41224717

SN - 1396-5883

SP - 1218

EP - 1231

JO - European Journal of Dental Education

JF - European Journal of Dental Education

ER -