Document Type : Perspective
Authors
1
Department of E-learning in Medical Sciences, Virtual School and Centre of Excellence in E-learning, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2
Discipline of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
Abstract
Immersive technologies, specifically Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), are actively redefining contemporary clinical education by creating safe, engaging, and repeatable environments that effectively connect theoretical knowledge with essential practical application. These tools allow learners to rehearse complex clinical skills, navigate three-dimensional anatomical structures, and participate in simulated emergency or surgical scenarios without endangering patient safety. Evidence consistently highlights improvements in knowledge retention, procedural competence, learner confidence, and motivation, positioning immersive modalities as valuable complements to traditional teaching methods. Yet, despite this demonstrated promise, sustainable integration across healthcare institutions faces significant structural and pedagogical obstacles. Key barriers include high equipment costs, infrastructure requirements, limited faculty readiness, learner accessibility concerns such as cybersickness, and scalability issues. Crucially, the current absence of robust, long-term evidence directly linking immersive training gains to measurable improvements in patient outcomes and real-world effectiveness raises important questions about widespread investment and sustainability. This perspective argues that immersive technologies should be viewed not merely as isolated novelties, but rather as catalysts requiring rigorous pedagogical governance. By critically examining current evidence and structural barriers, and by proposing strategic educational roadmaps, this article calls for an approach that carefully balances digital innovation with the humanistic and ethical dimensions of clinical training, ensuring that technological progress enhances, rather than replaces, the core values of healthcare education.
Highlights
Zahra Karimian (Google Scholar)
Morteza Rezaei-Zadeh (Google Scholar)
Keywords
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