Number
405
Name
Virtual Reality in Medical Physiology: Bridging Knowledge and Application Through Immersive Learning
Date & Time
Monday, June 16, 2025, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location Name
Exhibition Hall C
Speakers
Anastasia Mashukova - Nova Southeastern University
Presentation Topic(s)
Instructional Methods
Description

Purpose
The incorporation of virtual reality (VR) in medical education has shown promise in enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. This study aimed to assess the impact of VR sessions on student performance and course evaluation feedback in an intensive 10-week Medical Physiology course offered to first-year medical students at Nova Southeastern University’s Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU KPCOM).

Methods
VR sessions were introduced into the Medical Physiology course in Fall 2023. Two immersive learning platforms, 3D Organon and Acadicus VR, were used to supplement lectures on autonomic nervous system (ANS) physiology. Based on improved student performance and positive feedback, additional VR sessions utilizing the Acadicus VR platform were designed for Fall 2024. These included an immersive case experience to supplement lectures on respiratory physiology and a comprehensive end-of-course case study requiring students to integrate knowledge from multiple body systems studied throughout the course. Exam scores and course feedback from Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 were compared to those from Fall 2022 when VR sessions were not utilized.

Results
Significant improvement (p < 0.005) was observed in student performance on exam questions aligned with learning objectives delivered via VR sessions. Compared to Fall 2022 (no VR experience, average performance 61.5%), student performance increased to 87.2% in Fall 2023 and 84.0% in Fall 2024. Overall course satisfaction and faculty evaluations also improved. Students no longer identified topics supplemented by VR sessions (ANS, respiratory, and cardiovascular physiology) as the most challenging parts of the course in their comments.

Conclusions
Integrating VR into the Medical Physiology curriculum enhanced student performance and satisfaction. We believe that including VR case-based sessions in foundational science courses can deepen student understanding of physiological processes and promote active knowledge application. Based on our results, we plan to expand VR applications to other foundational science courses in the medical school curriculum.