AEducaAR, Anatomical Education in Augmented Reality: A Pilot Experience of an Innovative Educational Tool Combining AR Technology and 3D Printing

Laura Cercenelli, Alessia De Stefano, Anna Maria Billi, Alessandra Ruggeri, Emanuela Marcelli, Claudio Marchetti, Lucia Manzoli, Stefano Ratti and Giovanni Badiali
Additional contact information
Laura Cercenelli: eDIMES Lab-Laboratory of Bioengineering, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Alessia De Stefano: Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Anna Maria Billi: Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Alessandra Ruggeri: Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Emanuela Marcelli: eDIMES Lab-Laboratory of Bioengineering, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Claudio Marchetti: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Lucia Manzoli: Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Stefano Ratti: Cellular Signalling Laboratory, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Giovanni Badiali: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: Gross anatomy knowledge is an essential element for medical students in their education, and nowadays, cadaver-based instruction represents the main instructional tool able to provide three-dimensional (3D) and topographical comprehensions. The aim of the study was to develop and test a prototype of an innovative tool for medical education in human anatomy based on the combination of augmented reality (AR) technology and a tangible 3D printed model that can be explored and manipulated by trainees, thus favoring a three-dimensional and topographical learning approach. After development of the tool, called AEducaAR (Anatomical Education with Augmented Reality), it was tested and evaluated by 62 second-year degree medical students attending the human anatomy course at the International School of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Bologna. Students were divided into two groups: AEducaAR -based learning (“ AEducaAR group”) was compared to standard learning using human anatomy atlas (“Control group”). Both groups performed an objective test and an anonymous questionnaire. In the objective test, the results showed no significant difference between the two learning methods; instead, in the questionnaire, students showed enthusiasm and interest for the new tool and highlighted its training potentiality in open-ended comments. Therefore, the presented AEducaAR tool, once implemented, may contribute to enhancing students’ motivation for learning, increasing long-term memory retention and 3D comprehension of anatomical structures. Moreover, this new tool might help medical students to approach to innovative medical devices and technologies useful in their future careers.

Keywords: augmented reality; 3D printing; human anatomy; medical training; medical technologies; medical students; learning approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1024/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1024/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1024-:d:727032

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().