Enhancing Diagnostic and Communication Skills in General Practice Training Using Virtual Reality

09.10.2025, Abschlussarbeiten, Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

Enhancing Diagnostic and Communication Skills in General Practice Training Using Virtual Reality

Effective communication is a key component of every medical consultation. While medical students are trained extensively in clinical procedures, they often struggle with the interpersonal aspects of patient care—such as expressing empathy, building trust, or delivering difficult news. With patient populations becoming increasingly diverse, training these communication and diagnostic skills in realistic contexts is essential.

This Master's thesis focuses on the design, implementation and evaluation of a Virtual Reality (VR) training system built with Unity. The goal is to create immersive and interactive consultation scenarios in which medical students engage with AI-driven virtual patients (VPs). These VPs, powered by large language models, will respond in real time with natural and context-aware dialogue, simulating realistic communication behaviors and emotional expressions. The system aims to enhance students’ diagnostic reasoning, empathy, and cultural competence in a safe and repeatable environment.

Requirements

• Master’s student in Informatics, Game Engineering, or a related field
• Proficiency with Unity for VR or 3D development
• Basic programming skills in C# or Python
• Interest in AI-driven simulations, interactive storytelling, and medical training applications
• Ability to work independently and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including medical experts

Interested students with a background in Unity development are encouraged to reach out to the supervisor for further information.

Kontakt: ozdelsuleyman@tum.de