Virtual Reality Curriculum Increases Pediatric Clerkship Students' Knowledge of Congenital Heart Disease

This study aimed to assess the impact of a virtual reality (VR) educational curriculum on the knowledge of congenital heart disease (CHD) among medical students during their pediatric clerkship. A multi-center study was conducted involving medical students from two large academic medical centers. Participants engaged in the Stanford Virtual Heart (SVH) educational program during their pediatric clerkship from July 2020 to September 2021. The study employed a stratified approach for group assignment based on timing of enrollment, with Center 1 stratifying by the first or second half of the academic year and Center 2 by month-long rotations. A validated 27-question assessment tool focused on six common CHDs was administered, with the intervention group completing the SVH before the assessment and the control group completing the SVH after the assessment. Additionally, a qualitative survey gauging the participants' experience was conducted. Results were compared between the intervention and control groups. A total of 373 medical students (179 intervention and 194 control) participated in the study. The intervention group exhibited significantly better performance on the assessment compared to the control group across both medical centers (P value < .0001). More than 92% of participants rated the VR experience as 'easy' or 'very easy' to use. Over 99% of participants recommended integrating the program into the pediatric clerkship curriculum. The SVH curriculum was seamlessly integrated into two medical school pediatric clerkships, resulting in a significant improvement in CHD understanding. The overwhelmingly positive feedback supports the incorporation of VR-based educational tools into medical education.