AzTrials
AzTrials

Augmented RealityTEACHANATOMYNCT05985746

Comparative Study of Augmented Reality vs Traditional Learning in Anatomy Education

A study testing Augmented reality group and Traditional learning group in people with Augmented Reality and Anatomy Education, run by Balgrist University Hospital at 1 site in Switzerland.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the efficacy of augmented reality (AR) in anatomy teaching. The main question to answer is: Is 3-Dimensional AR technology more effective than traditional learning methods in anatomy education? In this clinical trial undergraduate medical students with no prior anatomy… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Augmented Reality, Anatomy Education
What is being tested?
Augmented reality group and Traditional learning group
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
48 participants
Where
1 siteSwitzerland
Study dates
21 Aug 2022to 24 Oct 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 25 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Medical students attending the 1st or 2nd year of undergraduate medical education
  • Must not have prior neuroanatomical education

Who cannot join

  • Epilepsy
  • Binocular vision disorder such as strabismus
  • Current head and/or neck injuries
  • Inflammation of the scalp and/or eye
  • Amputations or partial amputations of the hands

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Switzerland1 site
  • Balgrist University Hospital

    Zurich, Z, 8008

Other trials in Switzerland

About this study

Official title: Effectiveness of Augmented Reality in Anatomy Education: The TEACHANATOMY Randomized Clinical Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the efficacy of augmented reality (AR) in anatomy teaching.

The main question to answer is: Is 3-Dimensional AR technology more effective than traditional learning methods in anatomy education? In this clinical trial undergraduate medical students with no prior anatomy education will be recruited. Participants in the AR group will learn the anatomy of the cranial nerves with an AR application using Microsoft HoloLens 2, whereas participants in the control group will learn with traditional learning methods (textbooks, atlases, videos, and online learning programs).

Read the detailed description

Anatomy is a central part in medical training and is traditionally taught through lectures, textbooks, videos and cadaver dissections. Cadaver dissections are important to understand spatial relationships and individual variations of anatomical structures. In many universities, however, financial and ethical considerations, as well as uncommon circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have restricted access to cadaver dissections. Consequently, new teaching methods based on visual technologies such as augmented reality (AR) are being implemented worldwide. AR can generate realistic 3-dimensional (3D) images overlaid in the real-word environment, merging real and virtual world to provide an interactive learning experience. The use of such technologies in education is still in the early stages, and further research is needed to assess their beneficial impact in knowledge acquisition. The TEACHANATOMY project aim to develop a 3D, interactive AR teaching module focused on the anatomy of the cranial nerves. To assess its potential value in anatomy education, the investigators will perform a study to compare traditional learning methods based on textbooks, videos, and online resources, with the novel AR learning module using the HoloLens 2 (Microsoft Corporation). The goal is to assess whether AR technology can improve anatomical knowledge and enhance student's motivation and engagement.

Being tested
Augmented reality group, Traditional learning group
Keywords
Anatomy teaching, Augmented reality, Microsoft HoloLens, Cranial nerves

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Augmented reality groupOther

    • Study presentation: participants will be given a 10-minute general introduction on the study followed by a 20 minutes tutorial to introduce the HoloLens 2 and the TEACHANATOMY learning platform.
    • Study session: The study session consists of three learning blocks of approximately 20 minutes each, plus a repetition block to assess the acquired knowledge. During the study session participants will be given no time constraints and free breaks.
    • Assessment test: Participants will be assessed with a 30 minutes knowledge assessment test.
    • Final questionnaire: At the end participants will be given a questionnaire to assess adverse health symptoms and user experience.
  • Traditional learning groupOther

    • Study presentation: participants will be given a 10-minute general introduction on the study followed by a presentation to introduce the study session.
    • Study session: The study session consists of the learning resources most used by students: specific sections from four different neuroanatomy books, access to two websites, two 3D videos, and two online learning programs. During the study session participants will be given no time constraints and free breaks.
    • Assessment test: Participants will be assessed with a 30 minutes knowledge assessment test.
    • Final questionnaire: At the end participants will be given a questionnaire to assess adverse health symptoms and user experience.
Study groups in NCT05985746
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Augmented Reality (AR) group.Experimental- The experimental group will consist of approximately 20 undergraduate medical students. Participants will use the TEACHANATOMY learning application with the HoloLens 2.
Receives: Other: Augmented reality group
Traditional learning (TL) group.Active comparator- The control group will consist of approximately 20 undergraduate medical students. Participants will use traditional learning methods with textbooks, atlases, videos, and online learning programs,
Receives: Other: Traditional learning group

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Knowledge acquisition

    The primary outcome will consist of the score in the final theoretical and practical tests. The theoretical test consist of 23 single and multiple-choice questions in which participants will be required to recognize and name the 12 cranial nerves, differentiate their main functions and the typology (sensory, motor, mixed), explain the relationships between their structure and function, and recognize lesions using case studies. In the practical part, participants will be required to mark specific nerves in a 3D-printed anatomical skull model. The duration of the test will be of 30 minutes.

    Measured: Immediately after the study session, Day 1

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Adverse Health Symptoms

    Secondary outcomes will include adverse health symptoms, evaluated with a questionnaire to assess presence and severity of general symptoms (General discomfort, Fatigue, Headache, Dizziness, Nausea, Concentration problems, Disorientation, Neck stiffness/neck pain, No symptoms) and eye-related symptoms (Blurred vision, Difficulty focusing, Double-vision, Dry eyes No symptoms). Presence and severity of symptoms will be rated on a Likert scale from 1 (almost imperceptible) to 10 (extreme).

    Measured: Immediately after the knowledge acquisition test, Day 1.

  2. User experience

    User experience will be assessed using an adapted NASA Task Load Index (5 questions, range, 1-10, with lower scores indicating lower cognitive workload) plus additional 10-point Likert scale and open-ended questions, in which participants were asked to rank their comfort with the material and hardware and the teaching effectiveness of the software or of the traditional learning methods to learn the anatomy of the cranial nerves

    Measured: Immediately after the knowledge acquisition test, Day 1.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Aug 2023
  2. Study start21 Aug 2022
  3. Primary completion24 Oct 2022
  4. Study completion24 Oct 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
48 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05985746
Sponsor's protocol ID
TEACHANATOMY
Acronym
TEACHANATOMY
Status last verified
Aug 2023
First submitted
17 Jul 2023
Last updated
14 Aug 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Moro C, Stromberga Z, Raikos A, Stirling A. The effectiveness of virtual and augmented reality in health sciences and medical anatomy. Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Nov;10(6):549-559. doi: 10.1002/ase.1696. Epub 2017 Apr 17.

    PubMed 28419750
  • Bolek KA, De Jong G, Henssen D. The effectiveness of the use of augmented reality in anatomy education: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 27;11(1):15292. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94721-4.

    PubMed 34315955
  • Chytas D, Johnson EO, Piagkou M, Mazarakis A, Babis GC, Chronopoulos E, Nikolaou VS, Lazaridis N, Natsis K. The role of augmented reality in Anatomical education: An overview. Ann Anat. 2020 May;229:151463. doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151463. Epub 2020 Jan 21.

    PubMed 31978568
  • Curran VR, Xu X, Aydin MY, Meruvia-Pastor O. Use of Extended Reality in Medical Education: An Integrative Review. Med Sci Educ. 2022 Dec 19;33(1):275-286. doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01698-4. eCollection 2023 Feb.

    PubMed 36569366
  • Gsaxner C, Li J, Pepe A, Jin Y, Kleesiek J, Schmalstieg D, Egger J. The HoloLens in medicine: A systematic review and taxonomy. Med Image Anal. 2023 Apr;85:102757. doi: 10.1016/j.media.2023.102757. Epub 2023 Jan 21.

    PubMed 36706637
  • McBain KA, Habib R, Laggis G, Quaiattini A, M Ventura N, Noel GPJC. Scoping review: The use of augmented reality in clinical anatomical education and its assessment tools. Anat Sci Educ. 2022 Jul;15(4):765-796. doi: 10.1002/ase.2155. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

    PubMed 34800073
  • Moro C, Birt J, Stromberga Z, Phelps C, Clark J, Glasziou P, Scott AM. Virtual and Augmented Reality Enhancements to Medical and Science Student Physiology and Anatomy Test Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Anat Sci Educ. 2021 May;14(3):368-376. doi: 10.1002/ase.2049. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

    PubMed 33378557
  • Navab N, Martin-Gomez A, Seibold M, Sommersperger M, Song T, Winkler A, Yu K, Eck U. Medical Augmented Reality: Definition, Principle Components, Domain Modeling, and Design-Development-Validation Process. J Imaging. 2022 Dec 23;9(1):4. doi: 10.3390/jimaging9010004.

    PubMed 36662102
  • Stojanovska M, Tingle G, Tan L, Ulrey L, Simonson-Shick S, Mlakar J, Eastman H, Gotschall R, Boscia A, Enterline R, Henninger E, Herrmann KA, Simpson SW, Griswold MA, Wish-Baratz S. Mixed Reality Anatomy Using Microsoft HoloLens and Cadaveric Dissection: A Comparative Effectiveness Study. Med Sci Educ. 2019 Nov 15;30(1):173-178. doi: 10.1007/s40670-019-00834-x. eCollection 2020 Mar.

    PubMed 34457656
  • Stromberga Z, Phelps C, Smith J, Moro C. Teaching with Disruptive Technology: The Use of Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Reality (HoloLens) for Disease Education. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1317:147-162. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-61125-5_8.

    PubMed 33945136
  • Uruthiralingam U, Rea PM. Augmented and Virtual Reality in Anatomical Education - A Systematic Review. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1235:89-101. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-37639-0_5.

    PubMed 32488637
  • Ghosh SK. Cadaveric dissection as an educational tool for anatomical sciences in the 21st century. Anat Sci Educ. 2017 Jun;10(3):286-299. doi: 10.1002/ase.1649. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

    PubMed 27574911

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Augmented reality group and Traditional learning group in people with Augmented Reality and Anatomy Education, run by Balgrist University Hospital at 1 site in Switzerland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Aug 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Knowledge acquisition (time frame: Immediately after the study session, Day 1). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05985746, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Aug 2023.

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