Extended Reality-A Narrative Review of Current State and Best Use in Health Care Simulation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Simulation
• Extended Reality (XR) Technology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Extended reality (XR) is increasingly utilized in healthcare simulation.
• Best practices for integrating XR into simulation standards are still evolving.
• The impact of XR on learner cognitive load remains a subject of debate.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the optimal use of XR in healthcare simulation.
• To address the controversial effects of XR on cognitive load.
• To provide recommendations for effective XR implementation in medical education.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on XR in healthcare simulation.
• Analysis of factors influencing cognitive load in XR environments.
• Discussion of adaptation strategies and simulation design principles.

Main Results:

• XR can enhance audio-visual learning and potentially reduce cognitive load.
• Technical adaptation and cybersickness are challenges associated with XR use.
• Scaffolded learning and separating complex content improve novice learner outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Thorough training for faculty and learners is crucial for effective XR simulation.
• Adapting simulation design principles can optimize XR's impact on learning and performance.
• Further research is needed to enhance XR technology and validate its effectiveness.