VIRTUAL REALITY AND EXTENDED REALITY IN MEDICAL EDUCATION: EVIDENCE, EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES, AND FUTURE INTEGRATION
Keywords:
virtual reality, extended reality, augmented reality, medical education, simulation-based learning, immersive learning, clinical skills, anatomy educationAbstract
Virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR), encompassing augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR), have rapidly gained prominence in medical education as immersive technologies capable of transforming experiential learning. These tools provide learners with safe, repeatable, and interactive environments for acquiring clinical, procedural, and communication skills. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the educational applications of VR/XR in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The article examines pedagogical foundations, domains of application, reported educational outcomes, and implementation challenges. Available evidence suggests that VR/XR enhances spatial understanding, procedural competence, learner engagement, and confidence, particularly in simulation-based and anatomy education. However, issues related to cost, curricular alignment, and faculty training remain significant. Strategic integration of VR/XR is essential to maximize educational value and sustainability.
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