Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Education for Undergraduate Students Using 360-Degree Videos in Virtual Reality System

Digital transformation is being applied in dentistry, and its usefulness in improving three-dimensional spatial awareness has begun to attract attention in studies using head-mounted displays rather than conventional flat monitor studies. This study reports the effectiveness of a new virtual reality (VR) educational system on learning comprehension to teach hygienic handwashing, sterile glove application, and gowning techniques to fourth-year dental students before clinical practice.

We undertook a cross-sectional study of fourth-year dental students who underwent VR learning. The students were evaluated using before and after tests involving 10 questions concerning hygienic handwashing. As a secondary outcome, a nine-item survey was administered to determine their opinions regarding VR learning.

The study comprised 135 students. In the pretest, mean scores were 54.9 (SD = 13.2); however, in the posttest, the scores increased significantly to a mean of 83.9 (SD = 13.7) (p = 1.37E-40 < 0.001). The survey results showed that there was an increase in positive opinions about learning in VR. The number of students who considered VR simple to operate increased from 51 to 122 pre- and post-VR learning, respectively. Concerning whether dizziness and nausea would occur with VR use, 33 (24%) students either disagreed or did not agree at all, but increased to 56 (41%) respondents after VR learning.

The new VR education system improved student knowledge in hygienic handwashing in an actual operating room. This system can be used at any time and place, standardizing learning opportunities based on actual clinical practice and allowing repeated learning; thus, offering a new approach in dental education.