DESIGNING, PRODUCING, APPLICATION, AND EVALUATION OF VIRTUAL REALITY‐BASED MULTIMEDIA CLIPS FOR LEARNING PURPOSES OF MEDICAL AND NURSING STUDENTS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Learning anatomy of respiratory system and understanding the way that pathogenic bacteria can cause infection through it is always a challenge to students of medical sciences. Virtual reality technology has emerged to simulate real environment in a virtual world with all details and interactions. The purpose of the present study was to design, produce and apply a virtual reality-based environment of respiratory system and the way that pathogenic bacteria infect it. Then to evaluate the educational efficiency of this technological e-content to facilitate the learning of anatomical and microbial pathogenesis concepts. METHODS: A virtual reality simulated environment of respiratory system and its microbial pathogenesis was digitally tailored and produced. 47 medical students registered in medical microbiology course were randomly assigned in to groups of control (learnt course content in a conventionally method) and case (watched and interacted with the virtual reality contents). RESULTS: The level of academic achievement and the attitudes towards learning anatomical and pathogenic concepts of respiratory system was significantly higher for the learners who watched virtual reality basedlearning contents (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Virtual reality-based simulation is a successful complementary method to teach pathogenesis of respiratory system infection to medical students. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Simulating in a virtual reality environment with a 360-degree viewing angle provides a unique opportunity for medical educators and academic teachers to demonstrate respiratory system with all details to their learners. This can facilitate the learning of difficult concepts in the field of anatomy, clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.