60 - The Effect of Virtual Anatomy Tools on the Short- and Long-term Memory Retention of Undergraduate Pre-health Professional Students

Poster Board Number: 60
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Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Abstract Body : Introduction and Objective: With an increasing number of courses being delivered through
online formats, effective means to administer online instruction must be developed and
evaluated. Extended reality (XR) technology, such as online MRI imaging and 3D cadaveric
models, can be used to potentially enhance student learning by presenting anatomical education
on a platform that varies from the traditional didactic method of teaching. The objective of this
study was to evaluate the effectiveness of XR virtual anatomy tools on short- and long- term
memory retention in undergraduate pre-health professional students enrolled in Human Anatomy
and Physiology II (A&P II) at the University of Hawaiʻi - West Oʻahu (UHWO).
Materials and Methods: Case presentations used XR anatomical visualization with Sketchfab
and Rad3D platforms and radiological imaging from MRI scans. Sixteen undergraduate students
enrolled in the A&P II course at UHWO participated in this study. Short-term memory retention
was assessed via a six-question quiz, completed prior to and immediately after the XR based
clinical case presentation. Completion of a post-post-test two weeks after the XR based clinical
case presentation was used to determine long-term memory retention. Repeated measures
ANOVA was used to determine the effectiveness of the new XR virtual anatomy tool.
Results: The XR technology had a significant effect on student test scores, Wilk's Lambda =.54,
F (2,14) = 5.91, p = 0.014. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons revealed a significant increase in
mean scores from the pre-test (1.94) to the post-post-test (3.56), (p=0.011). Of the students
surveyed, 100% agreed that the XR virtual anatomical activities helped them develop confidence
in the subject area and was an important supplement to the course.
Conclusion: The XR technology significantly affected long-term memory retention. The
integration of innovative teaching methods into undergraduate pre-health curriculum may
positively impact student learning and may be an effective instructional tool.
Significance/Implication: XR virtual anatomy tools have the potential to provide long-lasting
knowledge retention that students can utilize during clinical experiences outside the classroom.
Further direction of this project would be to implement a wider range of case-studies into the
anatomy and physiology course while observing student engagement and skill level.
Funding Sources: This work was funded by Pūkoʻa Kani ʻĀina (NSF TCUP ICE-TI # 18546)
and the Enhancing Discovery-based Learning in STEM Education by Integrating Augmented
Technology and Culture-based Pedagogy project (NSF TCUP TSIP #1855379).