Advancing Interactive Medical Education of Anatomy Via the Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing Platform

The study aims to recruit 100 National Taiwan University 5th grade medical students who have completed a comprehensive basic anatomy course and are just entering surgical clinical rotations. Through a randomized controlled trial, educational training will be designed, and pre- and post-tests will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of learning advanced anatomy using the "Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing System" in virtual reality, versus the traditional method of "using flat diagrams to correlate with computed tomography scans." The study will assess the impact on learning outcomes, motivation, and learning experience in advanced anatomy education. We anticipate a well-structured learning model that bridges the gap between foundational and clinical medical courses.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Virtual Reality
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Virtual reality

Detailed Description

Anatomy is an important component of medical education, especially during surgical clinical rotations. It is crucial for students to be able to correlate the knowledge from flat anatomical diagrams to medical images and actual three-dimensional structures. However, for students with limited experience, transforming unfamiliar anatomical structures from 2D to 3D can be challenging. In recent years, numerous studies have pointed out the significant benefits of using three-dimensional anatomical models in anatomy education. Furthermore, interactive educational tools have shown even greater advantages.

The metaverse is a collective virtual shared space created by the integration of the internet and the physical world. It offers substantial assistance in virtual reality and interactive learning. While repeatedly using physical 3D printing for different body parts can enhance the understanding of three-dimensional structures, it is costly and time-consuming. Thus, through the collaborative effort of National Taiwan University Hospital department of surgery and Graduate institute of networking and multimedia, National Taiwan University, the "Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing System" has been developed to allow medical students to use wearable devices for immersive learning of detailed, interactive anatomy in a virtual platform.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Xu-Heng Chiang, MD; Phone Number: +886-972655136; Email: lycansblueray@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 18 years old studying in the Department of Medicine at National Taiwan University
• Completed a full one-year anatomy lecture course and gross anatomy internship in the third year at the Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University.
• Students who have not yet received a complete clinical internship in thoracic surgery.
• Recruit willing subject medical students during their internship in thoracic surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cybersickness
• Person who is sensitive to light stimulation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: 2D (traditional method); Learning advanced anatomy using the traditional method of "using flat diagrams to correlate with computed tomography scans.
Experimental: 3D (Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing System); Learning advanced anatomy using the "Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing System" in virtual reality.	Other: Virtual reality; Through a randomized controlled trial, educational training will be designed, and pre- and post-tests will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of learning advanced anatomy using the "Metaverse Virtual 3D Printing System" in virtual reality, versus the traditional method of "using flat diagrams to correlate with computed tomography scans."

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Questionnaire of Learning self-efficacy assessment	The results of questionnaires do not collect personal information. The values of the questionnaire scale do not indicate good or bad results.	1 year
Questionnaire of Motivated Strategies for Learning (MSLQ)	The results of questionnaires do not collect personal information. The values of the questionnaire scale do not indicate good or bad results.	1 year
Questionnaire of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)	The results of questionnaires do not collect personal information. The values of the questionnaire scale do not indicate good or bad results.	1 year
Pre- and post-test learning tests	The results of tests will not affect academic performance.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Xu-Heng Chiang, MD, National Taiwan University Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): August 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 28, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 7, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): June 13, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 15, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 11, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Surgery; Medical education; Anatomy; Metaverse
• Other Study ID Numbers: 202402100RINE

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No