A pilot study to evaluate the usability of an immersive virtual reality application for medical training in acute appendicitis.
Resumo
Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) is transforming medical education through didactic and interactive simulations of clinical cases. Immersive virtual reality (IVR) allows users to experience full immersion, creating the perception of being inside the simulated environment. Objective: To evaluate the usability of an IVR application designed for medical students’ training in an acute appendicitis case. Methods: A pilot study was conducted with 20 sixth-year medical students. A questionnaire has been developed to assess usability, acceptability, and user satisfaction with the technology. Each variable was analyzed independently. Results: All participants completed the simulation without technical issues. Only one participant (5%) reported feeling dizziness during the simulation. Participants manifested high levels of adaptation to handling the technology (95%) and understanding of the simulation panels and instructions (100%). There was strong acceptance of this technology for acquiring new knowledge (90%) and for the estimated time required to consolidate clinical knowledge using this intervention (75%). Conclusions: Although IVR is still in its early stages of development, it is establishing new educational opportunities in medical training.
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