Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on New Trends in Teaching and Education
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Using Virtual Reality to Immerse Students with Concepts in Medical Physiology
Imaan Benmerzouga, Ph.D., Anastasia Mashukova, Ph.D., Elizabeth Oviawe, Ph.D.
ABSTRACT:
The use of virtual reality (VR) in medical education has been demonstrating positive educational outcomes1. The immersive VR approach in medical education allows students to interact with a virtual patient scenario/environment that mimics the real world, transforming their experience from passive knowledge acquisition to active application2. The benefits of using VR in teaching medical physiology is an area of active investigation, but recent data suggest that using VR promotes active learning of physiology3. As a result, we piloted the use of VR to supplement lectures covering the anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system, utilizing two immersive learning technology platforms: 3D Organon and Acadicus VR. Results obtained from student performance on exam questions associated with the autonomic nervous system showed improved performance, compared to the year where students did not use virtual reality in medical physiology. An additional session was developed using a different patient scenario in Acadicus VR that highlighted important concepts in respiratory physiology. The session along with an application exercise supported student improved performance in the exam questions associated with concepts in respiratory physiology compared to the performance in the year that did not utilize active learning methodologies. We conclude that using VR to supplement concepts taught in the didactic component of medical physiology is a viable and valuable approach to teaching and learning medical physiology.
Keywords: virtual reality, medical physiology