Study Shows VR Enhances Medical Training Outcomes

A recent study has highlighted the potential of virtual reality (VR) and 3D-printed mannequins in medical training, specifically during pericardiocentesis procedures. Researchers from HM Monteprincipe University Hospital aimed to simulate the stress that medical students experience during high-pressure tasks, measuring their stress levels using heart rate variability (HRV).

The study involved 108 final-year medical students who underwent both VR and mannequin-based training. Results showed no significant differences in stress levels between the two methods, indicating that both were equally effective at replicating the stress associated with the procedure.

Factors such as age, income, and the use of anxiolytics were found to influence the stress responses, with younger students exhibiting more sympathetic activation. The study suggests that VR could enhance learning outcomes and make medical education more accessible, especially for students in economically constrained environments.

By replicating stress responses in training, the study underscores the advantages of simulation-based learning in medical education, providing students with a safe environment to practice critical procedures. The research advocates for the use of VR alongside traditional methods to support medical students’ technical and emotional development.