Virtual Reality in Clinical Teaching and Diagnostics for Liver Surgery: Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education and Training
• Diagnostic Imaging Technology
• Anatomical Visualization

Background:

• Traditional 2D tools and imaging techniques present limitations in learning and applying anatomy.
• There is a need for advanced methods to improve the visualization of anatomical structures and pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) as an supplementary tool in medical diagnostics.
• To compare anatomical understanding and diagnostic performance using 2D sectional imaging versus 3D VR visualization.
• To assess the usability of VR technology in a clinical context.

Main Methods:

• A cross-over study involving 63 participants (students, residents, specialists) evaluating liver anatomy and pathologies.
• Participants answered multiple-choice questions using both 2D MRI and 3D VR models.
• Key metrics included correct answer rates, processing time, and System Usability Scale (SUS) for VR.

Main Results:

• The addition of VR significantly increased correct answer rates across all participant groups (P<.001).
• VR eliminated significant performance differences observed between students and specialists/residents with 2D MRI.
• VR significantly reduced processing time for all groups, enhancing diagnostic efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality (VR) demonstrably enhances anatomical understanding and diagnostic capabilities.
• VR technology empowers students and residents to engage in diagnostics earlier, potentially improving clinical outcomes.
• Future research should address limitations such as lack of randomization and potential learning effects.