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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Med.
Sec. Healthcare Professions Education
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1384799
This article is part of the Research Topic VR, AR, MR in Healthcare: The Role of Immersive Technologies in Medical Training View all 3 articles

A Systematic Review of Immersive Educational Technologies in Medical Physics and Radiation Physics

Provisionally accepted
Talia Tene Talia Tene 1*Nataly Bonilla García Nataly Bonilla García 2Diana Coello-Fiallos Diana Coello-Fiallos 2Myrian Borja Myrian Borja 3Cristian Vacacela Gomez Cristian Vacacela Gomez 3*
  • 1 Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Loja, Ecuador
  • 2 Escuela Superior Politécnica del Chimborazo, Riobamba, Chimborazo, Ecuador
  • 3 National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN), Frascati, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Objective: This systematic review aims to analyze and synthesize the current state of research on the role of immersive technologies, specifically Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), in Medical Physics and Radiation Physics education. The primary focus is to evaluate their impact on learning outcomes, performance, and engagement across various educational contexts. Methods: We conduct a comprehensive search of four major databases: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and IEEE Xplore, covering the period from 2012 to 2023. A total of 316 articles are initially identified. After removing duplicates and screening for relevance . based on titles and abstracts, 107 articles are selected for full-text review. Finally, 37 articles met the inclusion criteria and are included in the analysis. The review follows the PRISMA guidelines and utilizes the PICOS framework to structure the research question. Analysis: Data extraction focuses on key variables such as the type of immersive technology used, educational context, study design, participant demographics, and measured outcomes. The studies are analyzed for their reported effects on learning outcomes, performance, and engagement. Results: The review found that immersive technologies significantly enhance learning outcomes and engagement. Specifically, 36.4% of the studies reported increased engagement, while 63.6% of studies focusing on practical skills noted performance improvements. The use of AR, VR, and MR showed broad applicability across different educational levels, from undergraduate courses to professional training programs. Conclusions: Immersive technologies have considerable potential to transform Medical and Radiation Physics. They enhance student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and boost performance in practical skills. Nevertheless, future research should focus on standardizing methodologies, expanding participant demographics, and exploring long-term impacts on skill retention and clinical practice. This review provides a valuable resource for guiding future research and implementing innovative educational strategies in the dynamic fields of Medical Physics and Radiation Physics.

    Keywords: immersive technologies, virtual reality, augmented reality, Mixed reality, Medical physic, Radiation Physics, PICOS approach, PRISMA framework

    Received: 14 Feb 2024; Accepted: 30 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Tene, Bonilla García, Coello-Fiallos, Borja and Vacacela Gomez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Talia Tene, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, 1101608, Loja, Ecuador
    Cristian Vacacela Gomez, National Laboratory of Frascati (INFN), Frascati, 00044, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.