Use of Virtual Reality to Educate Undergraduate Medical Students on Cardiac Peripheral and Collateral Circulation

Roberto Galvez; Robert C Wallon; Laura Shackelford; Jennifer R Amos; Judith L Rowen

doi:10.1007/s40670-020-01104-x

Use of Virtual Reality to Educate Undergraduate Medical Students on Cardiac Peripheral and Collateral Circulation

Med Sci Educ. 2020 Oct 27;31(1):19-22. doi: 10.1007/s40670-020-01104-x. eCollection 2021 Feb.

Authors

Roberto Galvez^{1

2}, Robert C Wallon¹, Laura Shackelford^{1

3}, Jennifer R Amos^{1

4}, Judith L Rowen¹

Affiliations

¹ Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
² Deptartment of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
³ Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.
⁴ Deptartment of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820 USA.

Abstract

Many medical schools are looking to utilize virtual reality (VR); however, due to its novelty, we know little about how VR can be effectively used in medical education. This study evaluates a case-centered VR task that supported students with learning peripheral and collateral circulation, anatomical features that are not easily observed in cadavers. Data sources included a quiz, survey, and focus group. Based on quantitative and qualitative analyses, we support the claim that this activity was an effective use of VR and identify features that made it effective, which can guide other educators who are interested in developing VR activities.

Keywords: Active learning; Cardiology; Clinical vignette; Preclinical; Undergraduate Medical Education; Virtual reality.