Evaluation of the educational effectiveness of a mixed reality software package for teaching human ear anatomy and disorders examination combined with otoscope images for medical students
Evaluation of the educational effectiveness of mixed reality software on the quality of learning theoretical and clinical skills of medical students compared to traditional teaching methods
Design
A randomized, parallel group, non-blinded clinical trial with control group on 28 students. The rand function of Excel software is used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
9 to 10 ear anatomy training sessions at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences using:
Mixed reality headset and software (intervention group)
Traditional teaching methods (control group)
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Medical students in their third semester of training
Currently enrolled in ear anatomy coursework
No prior training with virtual or mixed reality
Willing to attend all study sessions
Able to complete assessments in Persian
Exclusion criteria:
Prior experience with virtual/mixed reality 3D ear models
Taking ear anatomy remediation courses
Absences during >20% of study sessions
Experiencing severe health issues during the use of mixed reality, such as dizziness or nausea
Participating in other educational research studies that could confound results
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Teaching ear anatomy using mixed reality software
Control group: Teaching ear anatomy using the traditional methods
Main outcome variables
Knowledge Gain Score
Difference in test scores between pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments on ear anatomy using a multiple-choice questionnaire
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20250917067278N1
Registration date:2025-12-15, 1404/09/24
Registration timing:registered_while_recruiting
Last update:2025-12-15, 1404/09/24
Update count:0
Registration date
2025-12-15, 1404/09/24
Registrant information
Name
Zahra Amiri Esfahani
Name of organization / entity
University of Isfahan
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 31 3233 0953
Email address
zahraamiri@eng.ui.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2025-12-13, 1404/09/22
Expected recruitment end date
2026-01-20, 1404/10/30
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Evaluation of the educational effectiveness of a mixed reality software package for teaching human ear anatomy and disorders examination combined with otoscope images for medical students
Public title
The effect of using mixed reality technology compared to traditional methods in teaching ear anatomy for medical students
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Medical students in their third semester of training
Currently enrolled in ear anatomy coursework at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
No prior training with virtual or mixed reality
Willing to attend all study sessions
Able to complete assessments in Persian
Exclusion criteria:
Prior experience with virtual/mixed reality 3D ear models
Currently taking ear anatomy remediation courses
Absences during >20% of study sessions
Experiencing severe health issues during the use of mixed reality, such as dizziness or nausea
Currently participating in other educational research studies that could confound results
Age
No age limit
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
28
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Simple individual randomization.
The randomization process uses the method of manual drawing. On 28 pieces of paper, the title "Mixed Reality Group" (14 pieces) or "Control Group" (14 pieces) is written. The papers are folded and placed in a single container, and after thoroughly mixing, each participant randomly selects one paper upon entering the study.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics committee of University of Isfahan
Street address
Research Misconduct Investigation Committee, Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology, University of Isfahan, Azadi Squ.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73441
Approval date
2025-09-13, 1404/06/22
Ethics committee reference number
IR.UI.REC.1404.131
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Medical Education, Ear Anatomy Education
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Knowledge Gain Score: Difference in test scores between pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments on ear anatomy
Timepoint
Baseline(pre-intervention), after intervention
Method of measurement
20-point multiple-choice questionnaire. Pre-test and post-test questions are randomly selected from the question bank of the anatomy faculty members at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Student satisfaction scores: Participants will report satisfaction with the teaching method
Intervention group: Mixed reality software group: A mixed-reality software will be used to teach ear anatomy. This teaching tool provides interaction with 3D models of ear and allows students to explore and manipulate various anatomical layers of the ear.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: Traditional teaching methods group: Traditional methods will be used to teach ear anatomy, including didactic lectures, 2D textbook illustrations, and static anatomical models.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.mui.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
University of Isfahan
Full name of responsible person
Babak Saffari
Street address
Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology, 3rd Floor, Centeral Building, University of Isfahan, Azadi Squ.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73441
Phone
+98 31 3793 2171
Email
b_saffari@ase.ui.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
University of Isfahan
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.mui.ac.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.mui.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Esfahan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Mehrnoush Malekzadeh
Position
Assistant Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Anatomy
Street address
Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Hezar Jarib Ave.
City
Esfahan
Province
Isfehan
Postal code
81746-73461
Phone
+98 31 3792 9156
Email
mehrnoush.malekzadeh@med.mui.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
The data are copyrighted by the University of Isfahan.