Using Virtual Reality in Biomedical Engineering Education.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering Education
• Medical Simulation
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Biomedical engineering (BME) students require effective training in communication and interdisciplinary collaboration within healthcare settings.
• Traditional educational methods may not fully replicate the immersive and experiential nature of clinical environments.
• Virtual reality (VR) presents a novel approach to simulating real-world scenarios for enhanced learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) as an educational tool for biomedical engineering (BME) students.
• To compare VR-based learning with traditional 2D videos for teaching clinical communication skills.
• To assess student immersion and preparedness for interprofessional collaboration in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Development of VR and 2D video modules depicting interdisciplinary teams addressing medical device-related problems.
• Presentation of these modules to BME students to teach communication and collaboration skills.
• Collection of student feedback through surveys to evaluate immersion, understanding of roles, and perceived preparedness.

Main Results:

• BME students reported higher immersion in clinical scenarios using VR videos compared to 2D videos.
• VR facilitated a better understanding of clinical problems, team roles, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Students with prior clinical immersion found VR videos a valuable alternative and preparatory tool.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality (VR) demonstrates significant potential as an educational tool for BME students.
• VR-based simulated clinical scenarios are effective in training students for interprofessional collaborations.
• VR offers an immersive and experiential learning environment that enhances preparedness for real-world healthcare settings.