The clinical pathology laboratory in 360° virtual reality
Hamilton C. Tsang, Ryan J Morse, Jing Zhang, Tho Bui, Brooke Emrich, Rida Abid Hasan, Joshua A. Lieberman · American Journal of Clinical Pathology · 2025
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to enhance medical education by integrating virtual reality (VR) tours into the clinical pathology curriculum, comparing VR with traditional didactic methods. METHODS: Seven 360° VR tours were developed for the Microbiology and Transfusion Services laboratories. A controlled crossover study involved 171 medical students (83% MS4) from April 2021 to April 2023. Students were randomly assigned to either the VR or PowerPoint (PP) presentation groups. Surveys and assessments measured understanding, interactivity, relevance, and engagement. RESULTS: With more than a 90% response rate, VR participants rated the interactivity significantly higher than PP participants (mean, 4.48 vs 3.48; P < .001). The VR format also showed higher scores for understanding the laboratory environment (mean, 4.38; P = .6) and engagement (mean, 4.21; P = .004). Although assessment scores were slightly lower for VR participants (6.2 vs 6.5; P = .1), the VR tours increased engagement and provided a more interactive learning experience. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating 360° VR tours into the clinical pathology curriculum enhances interactivity and learner engagement, offering a scalable solution for remote learning. This method addresses the limitations of traditional remote learning, promoting a more immersive educational experience.