Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Medical Education
Date Submitted: Jul 9, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 9, 2025 - Sep 9, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 12, 2026
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Effectiveness of an Imaging Anatomy Virtual Simulation Experiment Course in Undergraduate Medical Education: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
The study of human anatomy serves as the cornerstone of medical education.However, traditional approaches to human anatomy education have primarily emphasized general three-dimensional (3D) anatomical structures, often overlooking the importance of two-dimensional cross-sectional anatomy.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Imaging Anatomy Virtual Simulation Experiment(IAVSE) Course in undergraduate teaching.
Methods:
A total of 50 third-year students who enrolled in the elective IAVSE Course were assigned to the experimental group, while 52 students who did not take the course served as the control group. Teaching effectiveness was assessed through both teacher evaluations and student feedback. Additionally, the medical imaging scores of both groups were compared during their fourth year of study.
Results:
Teacher evaluations revealed statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups. The experimental group achieved higher scores in human anatomy theory (85.00 (84.25, 85.50) vs. 81.75 (78.13, 83.00)), medical imaging theory (61.03 (60.41, 61.53) vs. 59.03 (55.66, 59.53)), practical testing (22.50 (21.50, 23.00) vs. 20.50 (19.00, 22.00)), and total scores (83.26 ± 2.58 vs. 78.46 ± 3.76). Student feedback, measured using Likert scales, indicated that the experimental group scored significantly higher in enjoyment, interactivity, participation, satisfaction, learning efficiency, usability, and acceptance. Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated a higher acceptance rate for the virtual simulation experiment course.
Conclusions:
The IAVSE Course serves as an effective bridge course between human anatomy and medical imaging. It enhances students' spatial understanding, improves academic performance, and increases interest in both human anatomy and medical imaging. The course demonstrates significant potential for broader application in undergraduate medical education. Clinical Trial: none
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