Construction of a virtual simulation teaching system for medical imaging education: a single-center experience

Virtual simulation constitutes a multidisciplinary field that integrates computer graphics, dynamic simulation modeling, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. It has evolved from an auxiliary tool into a core teaching methodology, becoming indispensable to modern medical education. Through the establishment of a high-fidelity digital ecosystem, this technology achieves the accurate reproduction of real clinical scenarios. It provides a reliable support platform for evidence-based teaching and practical clinical competency training. Medical imaging education is a critical component of clinical training, and the integration of virtual simulation technology has emerged as a key strategic approach to optimizing clinical teaching outcomes, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. Furthermore, medical imaging education aims to cultivate competent clinical imaging professionals with comprehensive practical capabilities. This descriptive single-center study focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a specialty-oriented virtual simulation teaching system for medical imaging technology. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated by comparing pre- and post-training outcomes among participants with three different levels of technical experience. The key components of an effective virtual simulation teaching system include clear identification of user needs, selection of appropriate technological approaches, sufficient granularity in system design, and implementation of engaging interaction modalities. For the training assessment of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) section, the comprehensive skills related to fetal scanning improved in all subjects (54.19 ± 18.03 vs. 66.62 ± 12.41, p < 0.001) after virtual simulation training. Among technicians with different experiences, residents (42.38 ± 15.41 vs. 59.95 ± 12.63) and junior technicians (63.4 ± 12.13 vs. 73.07 ± 8.34, all p < 0.05) showed the most significant improvement after retraining. In contrast, the improvement among senior technicians (72.50 ± 7.89 vs. 73.83 ± 7.41, p = 0.117) was not significant. These findings suggest the potential application of virtual simulation in fetal prenatal screening training.