Enhancing pediatric emergency training: the impact of virtual reality-simulation on medical student knowledge and learning experience—a pre-post intervention study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background Pediatric emergencies present significant risks, and medical students often have limited exposure to these situations, hindering the development of clinical skills. Virtual reality (VR) simulations offer a solution by providing high-fidelity experiences for practicing clinical reasoning and procedures. This study aimed to assess knowledge gain and gather student perspectives following a pediatric emergency VR simulation. Methods A 45-minute VR case scenario involving a newborn with late-onset sepsis was developed and implemented as part of the clinical rotation for medical students. Students' knowledge was assessed before and after the seminar using open text questions. Additionally, a post-seminar questionnaire was employed to gather feedback on estimated learning success, the efficiency of the simulation, and the didactic concept. Results Students demonstrated a significant enhancement in objective knowledge, with average scores increasing from 7.80 ± 2.1 points before the seminar to 10.90 ± 1.2 points after (out of a maximum of 12 points). Knowledge of nearly all individual diagnostic and therapeutic measures showed a significant increase. Accordingly, participants reported a high level of estimated learning success within the VR scenario. They also appreciated the utilization of VR simulations for instructing pediatric emergencies. The presence of a clinician expert throughout the seminar was well-received as integral part of the didactic concept. Conclusions VR simulations for pediatric emergencies offer a practical means for students to link theoretical knowledge with practical skills. They prove to be a motivating educational tool that leads to a quantifiable enhancement in students' knowledge.
Source: Virtual Reality
Institution: Universitätsklinikum Würzburg
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
OpenAlex ID: W4416425699