Virtual reality experiences in medical education: A systematic literature review

Abstract

Background: Some studies suggested that teaching anatomy with a virtual reality simulator would greatly enhance medical education. The purpose of this work is to analyze the available literature to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality as a learning tool for anatomy teaching in medical schools. Materials and Methods: This literature review was completed in accordance with preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines on September 07, 2022. The three databases that were utilized were Google Scholar, Cochrane, and PubMed. After performing the search utilizing the listed guidelines, two independent researchers shared and debated their individual lists, ultimately combining them and applying further exclusion criteria. This resulted in two remaining articles which addressed the research question. Results: One of the most notable findings in both articles is that students who utilized virtual reality in their anatomy learning demonstrated improvement in their understanding of structure locations and spatial relationships. In addition, students ability to read and understand diagnostic imaging markedly improved for images presented both on examinations and in face-to-face settings following virtual reality-based learning interventions. Virtual reality technology also increased interest in anatomy when utilized in the anatomy classroom, though this interest was limited to the anatomic region(s) in which the virtual reality sessions focused. Discussion/Limitations: Due to the scarcity of topically relevant results, this particular systematic review is unable to express anything beyond potential promise in the use of virtual reality-based interventions in the medical school anatomy classroom. As virtual reality technologies have been shown to potentially add benefit in these applications, there is reason to believe that new literature will become available in the near future. Conclusion: This particular review analyzed the available literature from the last 4.5 years on virtual reality learning in the medical school anatomy classroom. The authorial team found that very little has been written on the topic and that further research should be performed to determine the level of effect that this has on student learning other than that virtual reality increases student interests in the topics and specific anatomical regions of study.