Abstract
Over the last decade, the use of computerized three-dimensional (3D) models in a virtual environment has become widespread to enhance medical teaching and learning, particularly in anatomy. Technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) offer large potential to enhance medical training processes.
The research focus of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of using predesigned off-the-shelf VR software to teach medical knowledge in comparison with a conventional teaching method. Also investigated was the degree of satisfaction associated with using VR to learn. The teaching example focuses on the anatomy of the human heart because it is one of the most challenging topics to teach and comprehend due to its complex three-dimensional nature.
A randomized controlled study was conducted with forty participants. They were equally distributed into two groups: 20 in control (non-VR) and 20 in experimental (VR) group. Two learning methods were used to study the heart. The non-VR group used PowerPoint presentation, whereas the VR group used immersive VR from off-the-shelf software.
This study subsequently gives insight on three main aspects: First, there was significant difference in anatomy knowledge within the two groups. Second, the VR group found the learning experience to be significantly more engaging, enjoyable, and useful. Third, non-customizable predesigned software can be suitable and effective for medical training tasks and applications.
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Acknowledgement
We thank Dr. med. C. Schadow from St. Marienstift hospital (Magdeburg, Germany) for the great support with our project, especially with compilation of the non-VR teaching material.
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The software and hardware used in this study was purchased at the regular price. The authors have no connection to Varjo or Sharecare, Inc. The results presented here are based on the sole actions of the authors and are in no way related to Sharecare, Inc or Varjo.
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Odame, A., Tümler, J. (2022). Is Off-the-Shelf VR Software Ready for Medical Teaching?. In: Chen, J.Y.C., Fragomeni, G. (eds) Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality: Design and Development. HCII 2022. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 13317. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05939-1_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05939-1_15
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