Virtual reality-an innovative tool in medical education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Neuroanatomy Training
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive, interactive, and safe learning experiences in medical education.
• VR's 3D visualization capabilities can address limitations of traditional didactic and cadaver-based anatomy instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of VR-based neuroanatomy training versus conventional methods.
• To compare learning outcomes among undergraduate medical students using different teaching modalities.

Main Methods:

• 117 final-year MBBS students were divided into three groups: traditional lectures, lectures plus early VR, and lectures plus delayed VR.
• Knowledge acquisition was assessed via pre-tests, immediate post-tests, and a 3-month delayed post-test.
• A mixed-effects linear model analyzed data, accounting for repeated measures and student attrition.

Main Results:

• The early VR group showed significantly higher immediate post-test scores (14.1 vs. 10.3) compared to traditional groups (p=0.03).
• The early VR group maintained superior performance at 3 months; delayed VR showed intermediate improvement.
• VR exposure led to markedly lower attrition (98.4% vs. 58.9%), increased motivation, and greater interest in neurosurgery.

Conclusions:

• VR-based neuroanatomy training significantly enhances learning outcomes and retention compared to conventional methods, especially with early implementation.
• Immersive VR features boost student engagement, motivation, and interest in surgical specialties.
• VR shows potential as a valuable adjunct to medical curricula, despite cost considerations.