Work

Use of augmented reality applications on smartphones as a tool for anatomy learning: perceptions of medical college students in Pakistan

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: The teaching of anatomy is often perceived as one of the most challenging components of medical education. Augmented reality (AR) has emerged as a transformative educational tool. These applications superimpose digital information onto the physical world, offering students interactive, immersive experiences for understanding complex anatomical structures. This research investigates medical students' perceptions and self-reported use of AR applications on smartphones to assess medical students' familiarity with AR technology, engagement levels, usability challenges, and preferences between AR and traditional learning methods. Methods: , Bonferroni) was used to examine associations between the variables. Results: This study surveyed 496 medical students from FMHCM&D, Lahore, Pakistan. The mean age of participants was 21.33 ± 1.66 years. 32% were males and 68% were females. One hundred and forty-two of 638 consenting students (22.3%) had no prior AR app use and were removed before data entry. Whereas 77.7% (496/638) reported prior use of AR apps. Only 70% of students agreed about the frequent use of AR apps. 31% did not experience general usability difficulties (e.g., navigation problems), but 46.8% reported performance issues (e.g., app crashes, slow running, or battery drain) while using AR applications. These apps were perceived by 76.4% of students as helpful for securing good marks in anatomy, and 70% agreed that AR apps reduced their reliance on traditional learning methods. Furthermore, 81.7% of students agreed that AR enhanced their enjoyment of learning anatomy. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that medical students perceive AR as a valuable tool that enhances their engagement and enjoyment, highlighting the need for controlled, outcome-based research to establish AR's actual impact on teaching methodology.

Source: Frontiers in Public Health

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1957490